Thomas Sawyer

Thomas William Sawyer, aged ninety, died peacefully on Friday, December 20, 2013 at his son’s home in Rochester, Minnesota, after a battle with lung cancer.

Born on March 28, 1923 in Annandale, Minnesota, Tom was the second son of Palmer and Myrtle (Krohn) Sawyer. Tom was four years younger than his brother Neil.

Tom served in the United States Army during WWII. He served in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He also played baritone with the 5th Divisional Band. Tom earned two Bachelors Degrees - one in Electrical Engineering from Hamline University and one in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.

On May 12, 1956 he married Zelda Smidt in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They were the parents of two children, Leslie and Steve. Due to Tom's job with General Electric the family moved frequently, but they eventually settled in Fergus Falls in the mid 1960s.

He served on the board of the Annandale State Bank for over four decades and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls. He was also involved in Boy Scout Troop 302, which held their meetings at Grace United Methodist Church.

Tom was an avid outdoors-man who enjoyed hunting ducks, geese, grouse, and pheasants, and fishing for walleye on Lake-of-the-Woods. He and Zelda had fun watching the wood ducks nest in their yard each spring.

In their retirement years Tom and Zelda traveled extensively, visiting over thirty-three countries and going on many birding and elderhostel trips. Time spent with their grandchildren also brought them much joy. Tom was charming and social, with a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed visiting with others and liked to have fun with his family and friends.

Tom was devoted to his family and was Zelda’s caregiver for over five years after her open heart surgery.

Preceding him in death were his parents and his wife Zelda.

Survivors include his brother Neil, his children Leslie Sawyer of Longmont, Colorado, and Steve (Julie) Sawyer of Rochester, Minnesota; two grandchildren, William and Cadence Sawyer, and a host of loving relatives and long-time friends.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial Service: 1 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel.
Clergy: Reverend Robert Worner
Military Participation: Fergus Falls VFW and American Legion
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Annandale, Minnesota