Alvin "Ace" Thomas

Alvin “Ace” Thomas was born August 27, 1941 to Elmer and Alvina (Weinkauf) Thomas on a farm near Holland, Minnesota. He grew up on the farm in a large family of 14 brothers and sisters and he received his education in Holland and Pipestone, Minnesota. He was united in marriage to Ellen Steele on July 13, 1963 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with five children, Paul, Peter, Jason, Lorie, and LeAnn. The couple made their home in Ruthton, Tyler, and in 1975, they moved to Lake Benton, Minnesota. Ace worked as a mechanic and loved to fix and tinker. He worked 15 years in construction for Larry Sterzinger and later worked independently as a truck driver delivering mail. He retired in 2005 due to health complications and was doing kidney dialysis for the past 6 years. He entered Canby Nursing Home in 2010 where he died peacefully Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the age of 69 years, 8 months, and 18 days.

Alvin was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton. He was a member of Pheasants Forever. He loved to fish, hunt, garden, wood working, making birdhouses, and having coffee with the boys.

Alvin is lovingly remembered by his wife, Ellen; children, Paul (and Pam) Thomas of Buffalo, Minnesota, LeAnn Thomas of Burnsville, Minnesota, Peter (and Jennifer) Thomas of Mankato, Minnesota, and Jason (and Becky) Thomas of Elkton, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, Skylar Thomas, Laurissa Thomas, Brett Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Noah Thomas, and Bella Thomas; brothers, Frank Thomas of Waldorf, Maryland, David Thomas of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sisters, Evelyn Schmidt of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Faye Dehler of Milaca, Minnesota, Elener Mueller of Milaca, Minnesota, and Carol (and Ralph) Courtney of Tyler, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lorie Ann Thomas, and siblings, Richard Thomas, Ed Thomas, Ellen Fett, James Thomas, Millie Thomas, Sharla Thomas and Ardis Knutson.

Blessed be his memory!