He married Vi Gilbert in 1950. Tom graduated from Proctor High School in 1949, was a Call-Boy for the DM&IR while still in high school, owned a service station in Proctor and then became an insurance agent with the Prudential Insurance Company until he retired in 1989.
He was active in community affairs, served on the Proctor School Board for ten years, was a lifetime member of Forbes United Methodist Church, and in 2014 was honored to be the Grand Marshall of the annual parade. He particularly enjoyed planning and promoting the Ward Walleye Safari, a gathering of all the male Ward clan members to spend a four-day weekend fishing in northern Minnesota. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Duluth and to the Spirit Valley Kiwanis Club. In retirement he sold cabinets for Gilbert Electric, inspected homes for buyers, went to California as a Vista worker, and worked for Northern Waters Smokehouse in Duluth.
Tom and Vi were married for 39 years, made their home in Proctor, and together raised three sons and a daughter before Vi’s untimely death in 1989. In 2001, Tom and Beryl Peyton were married and spent fifteen happy years together traveling to exotic places and spending winters in southern climates. Tom was a wonderful man, brought light and joy to everyone he knew, was always positive, enjoyed life, was generous, compassionate, and accepting of differences.
He will be greatly missed.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Vi; sister, Alice Drazich; and four brothers, Donald, Jack, Dave, and Larsh.
He is survived by his second wife, Beryl Peyton; three sons, Thomas R. Ward, Mark (Irene) Ward, Jim (Cher) Ward, and a daughter, Francie (Jeff) Wilmot; three step daughters, Kris (Doug) Cameron, Lori Mansell, and Lisa Schroeder; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
The family wishes to send a special heartfelt thank you to all the hospice caregivers who cared for Tom, both in his home and at the Solvay Hospice House.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2016 in Forbes United Methodist Church, 33 Grove St, in Proctor.
Celebration of Life: 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2016 in Forbes United Methodist Church, with visitation time one hour prior.
Memorials, if desired, may be directed to Forbes United Methodist Church, the Solvay Hospice House, or to a charity of your choosing.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18