Earl Thom

Earl J. Thom, age 85 of Faribault, died Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to services.             The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation.             Earl John, the son of John and Irene (Voegel) Thom, was born on March 13, 1925 in Faribault. He attended Faribault High School and graduated with the class of 1943. On June 13, 1945 he was united in marriage to Marion Cobb at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Faribault. After their marriage Earl and Marion farmed in Warsaw Township from 1945-1982. During this time Earl was also a rural mail carrier from 1972-1990. Earl enjoyed working and stayed busy on their farm. He also enjoyed working on cars, snowmobiling, fishing and spending time at their cabin near Brainerd, MN with family and friends. Earl was a member of the Retired Postal Workers Union, the Faribault Aerie 1460 Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Knights of Columbus Council #889 in Faribault. He was a former board member of the Community CO-OP.             He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marion Thom of Faribault; by his son, David (Denise) Thom of Morristown; by 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; by two daughters in law, Sandy Thom of Villard, MN and Kathy Thom of Faribault; by a sister in law, Dorothy Uhlenhopp of Waterloo, IA; by three nieces and other relatives and friends.             He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Michael and Dennis Thom and his sister Olive Low.