Tom Magnusson
Tom Magnusson passed away peacefully at the age of 76 in San Diego, CA at the home of his cousin, Marty and Barb Seeley. As hard as he tried to beat the cancer, he lost the battle after 2-1/2 weeks in hospice. A Celebration of Life will be held later this summer at the Red Pines Bar & Grill in Onalaska, WI.
Thomas Kenneth Magnusson was born December 18, 1943 in La Crosse, WI, the third child of Horace and Edith (Roeder) Magnusson. He grew up in Lansing along the beautiful Mississippi River and graduated from St. George High School in 1961.
Tom joined the Navy in 1961 and received an honorable discharge in 1969 after serving six years. After his first four years in the Navy, he attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis, MN to become a Radio Announcer. He worked at the radio station in Escanaba, MI for a short time with his handle being “Tom Jones”, and then he relisted in the Navy. He was stationed in Germany with a top secret clearance. While there he met and fell in love with Angelica, and to this relationship a daughter was born. After the Navy he attended Winona State College and graduated with honors and a degree in Political Science. He spent most of his adult life as an Agricultural Consultant working alongside clients and trying to stay ahead and anticipate the ever-changing market.
Tom loved life, the game of golf with his friends from all over and especially at The Bridges Winona Golf Course, talking (arguing) politics and traveling often to see close friends in California and Colorado. He was the family “stay in touch” guy, checking in with family and friends on a regular basis, a kind, caring, unique person that loved and lived his life crossing boundaries and limits. You might say he lived his life his way!
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Edith (Roeder) Magnusson; a younger brother, Roy Magnusson; a nephew, Richie Gonzales; and a great-nephew, Douglas Wercinski.
He leaves behind a daughter, Shirley Thompson of Atlanta, GA; his step-mother, Amber Magnusson of Lansing; a brother, Bob (Shirlee) Magnusson of Mesa, AZ; his sisters, Karel (John) Sims of Milton, FL and Judith (Bill) Lowther of Pensacola, FL; a step-brother, Ron (Valerie) Dyb of Ettrick, WI; his step-sisters, Shirley (Bill) Sinnott of Waterloo and Tobe (Dan) Ferguson of Fairmont, MN; his nephews and nieces, David (Melissa) Woosley, Rhonda (Mike) Wercinski, Lisa Miller, Jim (Laura) Woosley, Robbie (Kim) Gonzales, Robin (Marlow) Roberts, Suzanne (Brad) Slawson, Steven (Misty) Magnusson and Edith (Bret) Metzger; many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins; and many loyal friends.
