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1925 Thomas 2018

Thomas Edward Oakes

January 17, 1925 — August 25, 2018

Thomas E. Oakes, at the age of 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN with loving family by his side.  Thomas (Tom) Edward Oakes was born on January 17, 1925 in Hunter, North Dakota to George H. Oakes and Inez Faultz Stockmoe.  He was raised in Hunter ND, St. Paul MN and Moorhead MN.  Tom was a proud World War II Veteran, joining the Navy in October of 1942.  He was shipped off to Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois and attended Cooks & Baker’s School in Washington D.C.  He served as head cook for 3 years on patrol craft in the South Pacific before his honorable discharge in 1946.  After his discharge, Tom attended Business College.  On June 6, 1948, he married Alta Mae Cobb in La Junta, Colorado.  They lived in Moorhead, MN until 1964 when they moved to Detroit Lakes.   He was a salesman for 35 years, retiring as a top Sales Representative for Fargo Paper Company (Cole Papers) out of Fargo ND.  Never one to sit still for long, he enjoyed tinkering with his garage full of tools at his workbench, creating amazing things from lawn mower handles, inner tube rubber bands and random scraps of wood.  Tom was a devoted husband and father whose church and family were central to his daily life.  He was very active in First Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, teaching Sunday School, and served on the Council and as a Head Usher for many years.    He was an active member of the local Elks Lodge and served as their Exalted Ruler.  He was known for his distinctive laugh, his energetic work and play ethic, his love of his family and lake home on Shorewood Drive, as well as every new vehicle he owned.  He will be greatly missed but will not be forgotten as so many of his engaging qualities have passed on through his children to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Tom is survived by son Rodney (Nancy) Oakes of Naples, FL and daughter Janet (Patrick) Juenemann of Champlin MN, 8 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Alta, daughter Linda Warner, brother James Oakes, sisters LaRayne Anderson, Ethel Sellin and Kathleen Boreen.A family Celebration of Life will be held in the Minneapolis area in October.  A Graveside burial service will be planned at a future date in Detroit Lakes.                                      
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