Thomas Klukas

Thomas M Klukas, age 78 of rural Atwater, passed away peacefully in his home  Thursday afternoon, May 6.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday June 11 at 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Lakes  Catholic Church in Spicer. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.   A private interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Atwater. Arrangements are with  Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Thomas Michael Klukas was born August 14, 1942 in Atwater, Minnesota, the son of  Richard and Monica (Wheeler) Klukas. He grew up in St. Paul, graduating from St. Bernard’s  grade school, Cretin High School (1960), two years at Dunwoody College and  served 4 years in the US Army.

Tom was a carpenter by trade, working throughout the mid-Minnesota area, culminating  in 18 years as a Carpenter with the State of Minnesota, Lino Lakes Correctional Facility.  But Tom’s true purpose in life was Family! He married Vicki Lamb (St. Joseph’s Academy  class of ‘61) in St. Paul, November 7, 1970. Together they raised a family of 5 children (along  with multiple wild and domestic critters the children made into pets) while Tom built  their unique “geodesic dome” home west of Atwater, Diamond Lake.  Along with his family, Tom loved the Earth. The Earth was his Home. He gardened the  earth, he walked the woods of the earth, he watched storms come in from the skies,  he tracked the birds’ travels every season, he raised cecropia moths, he studied and  observed the lives of INSECTS, the most important life form on earth, he says! And  after a full day in the garden or being Handyman Extraordinaire, he enjoyed ‘caw-fee’ on the  deck with wife Cranny while taking in the view of his own piece of Earth.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Vicki, 5 children, Andy (Linlin Li) Klukas of Ramsey,  Amy (Cris) Soto of Providence Village TX, Becky (Ryan) Brewer of Winona, Benjamin (Kelli)  Klukas of Andover, and Kati Klukas (special friend David Lesser) of Keller TX. Also  11 grandchildren: Josh, Josie, Quinn, Makenna, Ava, Laila, Hamilton, Stella, Jameson,  Monica, Hannah. Tom is also survived by 4 brothers: Rich of Beaumont TX, Jerry (Kristi) of St. Paul,  Jim of Hot Springs, SD, Bob (Kathleen) of St. Paul, and many important relatives and friends.

Tom was quiet, ever so gentle, patient, strong in so many ways. He will always be loved  and is missed so much by his family: Cranny, Toe, McAmel, Peanut, O’Connor and Kako.