Reverend Thomas Melvin "Tom" Wilson, age 82 of Coon Rapids, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Select Senior Living in Coon Rapids.

Tom Wilson was born in Clinton, MN on December 23, 1936 to Harold and Anna (Trebil) Wilson.  He graduated from Clinton High School in 1954 and entered the United States Air Force, stationed at Hunter AFB in Savannah, GA.  On December 11, 1955, Tom married Janet Gustafson at Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN.  They were blessed with four wonderful children, Mark, Cathy, Greg and John.

After being honorably discharged from the USAF, Tom and Janet returned to Minnesota where Tom entered the automotive business working for    S & B Motor Supply.  After a short time living in Phoenix, AZ, where Tom worked for the NAPA warehouse, the family came back to Minnesota where Tom attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, graduating in 1972.  After graduating, Tom bought and ran the NAPA auto parts store in Springfield, MN until 1982 when he decided it was time for a career change.  Tom attended St. Paul's School of Theology in Kansas City, MO, the school from which he graduated in 1985.

That same year Tom and Janet started their ministry career with the United Methodist Church serving the following churches:  Pattonsburg/Civil Bend/Heath in MO; Raymond/Rosewood, MN; Thief River Falls, MN; and Buffalo Lake, MN. They retired in 2001 after serving in Dexter/Grand Meadow, MN.

Tom took great pride in his family, enjoyed reading (especially the daily newspaper), collecting figurine clowns, and loved baseball, particularly the Minnesota Twins.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Janet; and brother, Robert.  Tom is survived by his children, Mark (Pam) Wilson of Coon Rapids, MN, Cathy (Byrum) Cartwright of Minneapolis, MN, Greg (Rita) Wilson of North St. Paul, MN, John (Shelli) Wilson of Cottage Grove, MN;  sister, Carol of Dumas, TX; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, all who loved him very dearly.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville, MN with Full Military Honors accorded by the Big Stone American Legion Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the National Military Family Association, www.militaryfamily.org

Arrangements entrusted to Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home of Andover (763) 767-7373