Tom Combes

Marlin Thomas “Tom” Combes was born on November 14, 1933 to Clarence and Opal (Chindlund) Combes. He was the youngest of four children. Tom grew up in Alta, Iowa and attended Alta Community Schools. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 21, 1952 and trained in San Diego, CA. He was deployed to Yokosuka, Japan during the Korean Conflict, where he was assigned to refuel ships coming in to port. Tom returned Stateside in December 1954 where he was subsequently commissioned to the U.S.S. Missouri in Bremerton, WA. His duties there included working as an administrative assistant and doing anything he was assigned to do by those in command. Tom was honorably released in January 1955. He remained in reserves until June 1960 when he was honorably discharged from military service.

Tom met Donna Fay Crane in 1956 and they were united in marriage on October 4, 1957. To this union four children were born: Kim (Diane) of Colo, IA, Kent (Lori) of Hartley, IA, Kelly (deceased) and Kristi of Rembrandt, IA.

Tom eventually moved his family to Rembrandt in early 1966 where he, in time, initiated his own business, Tom’s Plumbing and Heating. He retired from his business in 1988 at which time he and Donna migrated north to Rochester, MN. There they managed the Delano Motel where they met many wonderful people who became lifelong friends. Health issues brought Tom and Donna back to Rembrandt. Tom was then employed by Ranco in Sioux Rapids from 1990-2001.

Tom was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rembrandt. He greatly looked forward to Sunday mornings when he could share in fellowship with the congregation. Tom was a gregarious individual who delighted in conversing with family and friends. One of the greatest highlights of his twilight years was discovering that there was an annual reunion of other Navy men who served aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. As a widower, he traveled across the nation to these events with his good buddy, Doug Chase. Together they took yearly adventures to new destinations where they were reacquainted with old friends and made new ones.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna; son, Kelly; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Combes; and two brothers-in-law, Harlan Koth and Willis Radke.

Tom is survived by his three children, Kim, Kent and Kris; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his two sisters, Mavis (Lauren) Jacobsen of Dundas, MN and Doris (Cliff) Schmidt of Storm Lake, IA; an older brother, Donald Combes of Omaha; many nieces and nephews and a myriad of friends made in his 80 years on Earth.

The memory of Tom will live on in the minds and hearts of all whose lives he touched.