Al Peter Thomes

December 10, 1917 - April 25, 2002

Aloys P. Thomes, age 84 of Melrose died Thursday, April 25, 2002 at the Saint Michael’s Hospital in Sauk Centre. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 29th at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Rev. Vincent Lieser will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Al Thomes was born December 10, 1917 in St. Martin, Minnesota to John and Mary (Athmann) Thomes. Al was united in marriage to Marie Poepping on October 15, 1940 at St. Martin Catholic Church.  The couple farmed in the Elrosa area for 22 years before moving to Melrose.  Al was employed at Hollerman Manufacturing in Melrose and later at Kraft Foods where he was a cheese maker.  Al retired in 1982. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, bowling and fishing. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose and St. Bernard’s Society Catholic Aid.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Thomes of Melrose; children, Lila Thomas and her husband, David of Avon, JoAnn Loecken and her husband, Jerry of Delano, Jerry Thomes and his wife, Gloria of Little Falls, Ken Thomes and his wife, Kathy of Melrose, Mary Althaus and her husband, Ron of Melrose, Karen Studer and her husband, Greg of St. Cloud, Brenda Blonigen and her husband, Dave of Avon, 26 grandchildren and  26 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Ben Thomes and his wife, Lorraine of Cudahy, WI, Sister Marie Thomes, OSF of LaCrosse, WI, Sister Cecelia Thomes, OSF of Onalaska, WI, Martin Thomes of St. Cloud, Agnes Niehaus of Richmond. 

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter; brothers and sisters, Peter Thomes, Katie Fleischhacker, Christ Thomes, Frank Thomes, Leonard Thomes, Gertrude Thomes and an infant granddaughter.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jason Olk, Bryan Loecken, Eric Thomes, Keith Thomes, Scott Althaus and Dustin Blonigen.

Serving as honorary bearers will be Vic McConnell, Jim Ogle, Tony Wegleitner, Stan Moore, Randy Killian,  Jim Primus, Don Klassen, Tim Vogel and Jim Kraker.

Serving as cross bearer will be Carey Blonigen and scripture bearer will be Katie Studer.

Gift bearers will be Amy Studer and Megan Blonigen. Lector will be Kim Thomes.

A special thank you to Dr. James Sayovitz, the staff at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Hospice Home Health Care for giving excellent care to Al.

Arrangements are with Patton-Schad Funeral Service of Melrose.

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