TOLSMA, Don 1927-2003

TOLSMA, ZOERINK, PALMER, NAGEL, MCNEIL

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 9/23/2003 at 16:12:34

Don "Jack" Tolsma, 76, of Worthington, Minn., died Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at Minnesota Veterans' Home in Luverne, Minn.

Funeral mass was Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Worthington, with interment in the church cemetery.

Mr. Tolsma was born Feb. 14, 1927, in Inwood, the son of Peter and Ella (Zoerink) Tolsma. He attended Inwood Public School until enlisting in the marine corps in December 1944. He served during World War II and Korean Conflict, then in 1950 became a drill instructor in San Diego, Calif. Following his discharge, he drove for Dan Dugan Transport out of Sioux Falls, S.D., 11 years before beginning a career as an insurance adjuster. He was employed by R.M. Brandon Co., Sioux Falls, five years before moving to Worthington and working as an adjuster 25 years with Melhorn-Mueller Co., followed by seven years with Heritage Claims Service.

In 1954 he married Dona Palmer. In 1987 he married Rita Jensen Nagel.

He was a member of American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, Harley Owner's Group and claims associations in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Monte of Worthington; one daughter, Danielle of Worthington; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; two stepsons, Brendan and Adam Nagel, both of Worthington; his mother of Inwood and two brothers, Dudley of Payston, Ariz., and Peter of Milwaukee, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his father; one daughter, Melanie; one son, Dirk; one brother, Peter Verick, and one sister, Evadne McNeil.