Tom Bartholomew

Thomas (Tom) Quentin Bartholomew, 78, of Belle Plaine, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 10 at Ridgeview Hospital in Waconia. His funeral service will be at 11am on Monday, January 24 at the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Plaine in Belle Plaine.  Visitation will be from 2-5 on Sunday, January 23 at Kolden Funeral home in Belle Plaine and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on January 24. Interment will be at the Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis on Monday, January 24, with full military honors.

Tom was born at St. John’s Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota to Walter and Inez (Moffit) Bartholomew.  He and his family lived on a 10-acre farm in Moorhead, Minnesota for a couple of years before moving to a larger farm near Hawley, Minnesota, where they lived until moving to Wayzata, Minnesota, where he grew up.  He was baptized and confirmed at the Parker’s Lake Methodist Church directly across Parker’s Like from his home.

He had attended country school in Muskoda, Minnesota, within walking distance of his home in Hawley until 5th grade when the school was incorporated into the Hawley School system.  When he moved to Wayzata, he attended Wisdten Elementary School and went on to graduate from Wayzata High School in 1961.  Tom briefly attended the University of Minnesota School of Forestry, before entering the U.S. Navy, where he served his country proudly until 1966, serving three tours aboard carriers off Viet Nam.

Tom spent most of his life in Minnesota working in such jobs as gardening and landscaping, a baker’s apprentice, a draftsman, a mechanical assembler, and automotive technician, a field service technician and electronics technician. He was at times a Boy Scout leader, children’s choir leader, active in the church and community choirs, and an active board member and supporter of the Belle Plaine Area Food Shelf and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Plaine where he held position of Clerk of Session, Ruling Elder and Deacon, among others.

On October 15, 1966, Tom united in marriage to Doris Jepson of Albert Lea, Minnesota at the Albert Lea United Methodist Church.  Following Doris’ death in 2014, Tom married Alverna (Nicki) Voaklander of Excelsior, Minnesota on September 23, 2017.

Tom enjoyed spending time with family, traveling throughout the U.S., volunteering at the church and food shelf, and watching sports and television in general.

He is survived by his wife, Nicki; children Sherry (Jennifer Arlen), Justin (Stephanie) and their children Haley and Aiden; brother, Duane (Sally); sister, Maureen; sisters-in-law Carole Bartholomew and Susan Bartholomew; step children, Lisa Dressel (Peter Robst), Mark Voaklander (Sarah Rubin), Heather Bradley, Daniel (Kim Dornbusch) Voaklander, Luke (Kim) Voaklander and their families and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Doris; parents,Walter and Inez Bartholomew; brothers David and Charles; and stepson, Andrew.

Memorials preferred to the Belle Plaine Area Food Shelf and First Presbyterian church of Belle Plaine.

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