STEPHENSON, Thomas Joel 1947-2007

STEPHENSON, KRAHN

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 4/24/2007 at 13:57:54

Thomas Joel Stephenson, age 59, of Plainview, Minnesota, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Charter House Hospice Suites, Rochester, Minnesota.

He was born July 10, 1947, in Austin, Minnesota, and attended Austin Public Schools through his junior year. The family then moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he graduated from high school.

In 1966, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Pensecola, Florida, Adak, Alaska, Kenitra, Morocco, and on the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. He served with the Naval Security Group and the C.I.A.

After military service, Thomas graduated from Austin Community College, and eventually received a bachelor's degree in business administration and psychology from Winona State University. He also received a master's degree in counselor education and psychology from Winona State University.

On Sept. 21, 1968, he married Janice Marie Krahn in Toeterville, Iowa.

Thomas moved to Plainview, Minnesota, and worked at Lakeside Foods as Human Resource Director from 1979 to 1985. From 1986 until his retirement in 2007, he worked as human resource director for Kroger Foods at its Pace Daily Plant.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, Toeterville; daughter, Alyssa (John) Stephenson, Sturtevant, Wisconsin; son, Benjamin Stephenson, Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin; grandsons, John Thomas de Montmollin and Thomas Frederick de Montmollin; brothers: Richard (Reva) Stephenson, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota; Charles (Candace) Stephenson, Mason City; Mark (Kathy) Stephenson, Maple Grove, Minnesota; and John (Pam) Stephenson, Mason City; sisters, Sally Stephenson, Mason City, Jane Harris, Mason City.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at Good Shepherd Church, Plainview, Minnesota, with Rev. Paul Moore and Kevin Woeslehoff co-officiating. His cremains will be interred in Toeterville, Iowa, at a later date.