Obituary of Thomas Alan Sullwold

Thomas Alan Sullwold, 67, of Hermantown, previously from Fort Collins, Colo., passed away on Jan. 9, 2017 from cancer with his family at his side. Tom was born on Feb. 11, 1949 in St. Paul. He graduated from Kellogg High School in Roseville in 1967. He attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1974 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Tom enlisted in the Army in 1971. He spent two years in Neckarsulm, Germany where he was a Ballistic Missile (Pershing) Guidance & Control and Computer repairman, Specialist 4th Class. Tom married Shirley Dubisar on Aug. 3, 1974. The couple moved to North Dakota in 1976 and to Grand Rapids in 1978. Tom worked for Minnesota Power in Grand Rapids for five years before moving to Duluth in 1983. Tom retired from MP in November 2005 with 28 years of service. Tom and Shirley moved to Fort Collins in the Fall of 2005. Tom enjoyed hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, searching for wild flowers, watching elk, moose, enjoying nature, snowshoeing, tent camping, and photography. Tom worked a few hours per month as a disbursements accountant at Our Saviours Lutheran Church and played violin in the Windstrings from 2007 through Spring 2016. Tom and Shirley returned to Minnesota in April 2016 to be closer to family. Tom was preceded in death by his son, Brandon of Duluth in 2014; and his father, Earl of White Bear Lake in 2015. He is survived by his mother, Phyllis of White Bear Lake; wife, Shirley of Hermantown; daughters, Kristin (Noah) Venables of Minneapolis and Tammy (Nick) Licari of Duluth; grandchildren, Isaac, Ellie, and Henry Licari, and Abigail Venables. He is also survived by his brother, James Sullwold of Blaine and sisters, Patricia Sullwold (John Houtz) of Spring Lake Park and Sharyl (Bob) Schmidt of St. Paul; four nephews; and mother-in-law, Elvera Ziemann of Bismarck. We wish to thank Dr. Randall Millikan and the Oncology Department staff, Essentia/St. Mary's Hospital, and Hospice Home Care for their superior care. SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Faith Lutheran Church, 1814 N 51st Ave East, Duluth, MN 55804, Memorial donations may be made to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Rebuilding fund.