Tom Smith

Thomas Edwin Smith, 85, died Monday August 8, 2005 at his home in St. Charles. Tom was born June 22, 1920 in Pleasant Hill Township, Winona County to Edwin Rosemund and Ada Maude (O'Brien) Smith. Tom was raised in the Witoka area with his seven siblings and attended school there until 8th grade. He was always a hard worker, whether on the farm, in the rock quarries, the monument company or hauling milk. Tom worked for Winona Dairy Company before being drafted in to the U.S. Navy in 1944. He trained in Gulfport, Mississippi. He served in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, traveling through the Panama Canal. He was stationed aboard the USS Black Jacket in Aruba and in England. He later served on the USS Sidonia in France and the Philippines. Tom was very proud of his military service. Following his discharge he hauled milk for Rochester Dairy and AMPI, at one time running a fleet of nine milk trucks, retiring in 1982. Tom was an active member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Donahue Ham Post # 5630 of St. Charles since 1959. He served as Post Commander several times, also district commander, state treasurer, post quarter master since 1986 and all state quarter master. He participated in the VFW graveside firing squad. He also belonged to the St. Charles American Legion Post #190. From 1966-1974 Tom served on the local draft board. Tom was a member of Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite of Rochester and Zagalas Area Shrine Car Club. He received the lifetime achievement award from the Rochester Shrine Unit. Tom was an aid for Shriner Potentates Dave Hawkins and John Perkins, was on the board of Directors for the shrine club and was involved in many circus trips. He was an active member of the St. Charles United Methodist Church, belonged to the Moose Lodge and served on SEMCAC board for six years and served as president of the St. Charles Senior Citizen Board. Tom was awarded the Winona County Senior Citizen of the Year Award twice. He was Grand Marshall for the St. Charles Flower Fest Parade. Tom attended the World War II Monument dedication in Washington D.C. and the WWII Navy Reserves reunion in Los Angeles. Tom was an avid Twins and Vikings fan. He was a dedicated democrat. Survivors include his wife Dorothy, a son Darrel (Rose) Smith of St. Charles, two daughters, Carol (Richard) Tiede of Rochester and Tammy Miller of St. Charles, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two sisters, Rosemary Durand and Beverly (Bob) Douglas of Winona. Tom was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters. Funeral services will be 11 AM Friday at St. Charles United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sharon Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles. Friends may call from 4-8 PM Thursday at Hoff Funeral Home's - St. Charles Chapel. They may also call one hour before services at the church. There will be a Masonic Service at 7:30 PM Thursday at the funeral home. The St. Charles VFW and American Legion Posts will conduct military graveside honors at the cemetery.