Tom Blumhoefer Obituary

Thomas George Blumhoefer was born February 18, 1941, in Braham, Minnesota to George and Genevieve Blumhoefer. He was the second youngest of five siblings. He spent his childhood and teenage years developing a reputation as an epic prankster. Infamous episodes include (but are not limited to) attaching a chain to a police vehicle so that when it sped away the bumper was pulled clean off; shooting out the family’s solitary lightbulb with a BB gun; and depositing a dead skunk in the school ventilation system, thus requiring a building-wide evacuation. This era is also when he developed his love for animals and a fondness for tinkering with machinery. Legend has it that he once disassembled his mother’s brand new clock on Christmas day, only to reassemble it (upon her insistence) with some superfluous parts left out.

In 1959, Thomas was barely out of high school, working as a gas station attendant off of old highway 61 in Pine City, Minnesota. A friend stopped in to buy gas on his way out of town. He was moving to California with his wife and jokingly asked if Thomas wanted to hitch a ride with him. He did, so he went home, packed a bag, and left a short note on the kitchen table to tell his family (who were at church) that he had moved to Los Angeles. Thomas began his early working years in California with a broom, sweeping the floors of the Coca Cola production facility in Vernon, near Los Angeles. By the time he finished his career in 1999, he had accomplished a transformation that is impossible to imagine in today’s workplace. With only a high school diploma, a self-taught understanding of machinery and an unwavering work ethic, he achieved multiple promotions during his nearly four decades of employment. Thomas retired after 37 years, having managed hundreds of employees in multiple Coca Cola facilities across three states and achieving the status of Director of Operations. 

Thomas was a prolific and meticulous collector of Coca Cola memorabilia. He saved every corporate knick knack, handbook, bottle and souvenir that he was ever given at work. He spent his weekends with his family, scouring antique stores and flea markets for antique and nostalgic treasures connected to his employer. His vast collection was eventually auctioned off in Minnesota in 2023, and collectors traveled from across the country to bid on some of the rarer items. Some of this collection now resides in Georgia at the Cedartown Museum of Coca Cola Memorabilia. 

Thomas met his wife Shirley through friends in 1978. She was a single mother with a very young daughter, and they quickly fell in love. He told her when they married that she should pursue any endeavors outside the home that made her happy, whether that be work, school, or volunteer work. He was an old fashioned gentleman around his wife. Even when he was ailing and weak, he insisted on opening doors and letting her go through first. 

Thomas was also a reliable and caring father, neighbor, friend, and employer. He taught his daughter to ride a bike, catch a ball, stand up for herself, work hard, and set high standards in her romantic life. Throughout his life, he mowed neighbors’ lawns when they were out of town, whether they asked or not. He once gave his entire yearly company bonus to an employee whose family was facing eviction. He was an animal magnet and managed to attract and adopt multiple stray animals throughout his life, some of which even made good family pets. He enjoyed camping, going on long drives with his wife, and gently critiquing other peoples’ yard work. Thomas’ love language was quiet empathy, hard work, and reliability. He taught by example the value of always showing up and doing your best. 

Thomas “retired” back to Pine City in 1999 with his wife. Unable to quell his work ethic, he got a part time job at the local lumber yard, which morphed into full-time work and another almost 18-year career. He enjoyed getting reacquainted with his old hometown friends, and making new ones during those years. He became well-known for driving his bright red Jeep Wrangler slowly through town each night on a regular route, windows down, with his collie and poodle in the passenger seats. 

In 2019, Thomas and his wife moved into a home with their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in Stillwater. Although his health was declining, he insisted upon managing the lawn, flower gardens, bird and squirrel feeders by himself. Despite being on hospice care, this work continued until his last month. On the last day of his life, he surprised his family by insisting that he wanted to go out and feed his backyard “critters,” something that had been physically impossible in the days prior. Upon his return inside, he sat down and passed away quietly, surrounded by his family, with his pets at his feet. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley Blumhoefer; daughter Heather McLean, son-in-law Christopher Formby; beloved grandchildren Catriona Formby, Finn Formby; brother Gerald (Ginny) Blumhoefer; sister-in-law Patricia Anderson; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; his dog Cosmo, hundreds of squirrels, deer, possum, foxes, chipmunks and birds on the North Hill of Stillwater, all of whom are surely wondering why their feeders are now empty.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Genevieve Blumhoefer, siblings Esther (Arnie) Knapp, Helen (Gene) Anderson, Raymond (Carol) Blumhoefer; father/mother-in-law Ted and Shirley Dale. 

Father Chuck Brambrilla will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Tom: 11 AM; Monday (8/26) at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beroun. A time of visitation will be held from 2-5 PM; Sunday (8/25) at the Swanson Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to Mass at the church. 

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service ~ Swanson Chapel of Pine City
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com