Thomas Erwin "Tom" Dorsey, age 80, of Baldwin-Cylon area, died peacefully Saturday, December 18, 2010, surrounded by his loving family, at the Baldwin Care Center.
Tom was born on October 7, 1930, in Emerald Township, the son of Ervin and Alice (Kuhn) Dorsey. He attended Cylon State Graded Elementary School prior to graduating from New Richmond High School. On August 16, 1952, he was united in marriage to Beverly Jane Hansen at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cylon. Tom farmed his entire life in Cylon Township. This past year, he sold the farmstead and moved to Baldwin.
Tom's life evolved around family and community. He rarely missed a grandchild's sporting event or school program. He lived life by example. He served over 22 years on the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors, most recently as chairman of the board. He also worked part-time as a St. Croix County sheriff's deputy, chairman of the Cylon Town Board, board member of the Luck Mutual Insurance Board, and over 50 years of helping other grieving families on the Holy Rosary Cemetery Board. Moreover, he served as an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Deer Park Lions. Tom loved the outdoors. He liked playing softball and was known to some around Cylon as the "Godfather of Softball". Fishing for trophies in Canada, hunting the plains of Colorado, or calling out a Tom Turkey gave him the utmost pleasure. For the past ten years, he thoroughly enjoyed seeing friends and acquaintances while working at Gregerson Hardware in Baldwin.
Tom will remain in the heart of his wife and best friend, Bev; children, Jim (Angie) Dorsey of Clear Lake, Gary Dorsey of Luck, Lisa (Mike) Weiske of Woodville, Ann (Rod) Ley of Mineral Point, Wis.; grandchildren, Melinda Engesether, John (Emily) Dorsey, Frank (Ashlie) Dorsey, Matthew Dorsey, Justin (Katie) Grinnell, Nicole Crinnell, Elizabeth Grinnell, Paige Weiske, Shelby Weiske; great-grandchildren, Peter Engesether, Tyler Engesether, Madelyn Dorsey, Clara Dorsey, Preston Thomas Grinnell, Lance Kolba; siblings, Catherine Dorsey of Baldwin, Mary Wilhelm of St. Paul, John Dorsey of South Carolina, as well as their families and countless friends.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Alice (Kuhn) Dorsey; children, John Thomas, Renee Marie, Gail Elizabeth; sisters, Virginia, Julie and Ann Marie.
Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas Dorsey was 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 21, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Erin Prairie with Father James Brinkman officiating. Burial was in the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Cylon with active casketbearers being his grandchildren, who meant the world to him. Honorary casketbearers were Jerry Kuhn, Terry Kuhn, Darryl Kuhn, Sam Erickson, Dennis Erickson, Bud Henderson, Francis Klatt, Jack Martin, and Scott Ellevold. Visitation was from 3-8 p.m. Monday at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin and 1 hour prior to the Mass at church on Tuesday morning. Memorials preferred.
(New Richmond News - Thursday, December 23, 2010)
