Service Information
Thomas J. Ahl, age 72, of Lafayette, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at his home in Lafayette.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. at First Lutheran Church in Lafayette with interment in the Winthrop Cemetery.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Luncheon will be held immediately following the service at the church.
Obituary
Thomas Jeffrey Ahl was born on July 11, 1949, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Laurence and Hilma (Bondhus) Ahl. Tom was baptized as an infant in Stordan, Minnesota, and later confirmed in his faith as a youth at First Lutheran Church in Lafayette. He received his education in Winthrop, Minnesota, and was a graduate of Winthrop High School class of 1967.
On October 30, 1970, Tom was united in marriage to Jean Blankenhagen in Brookings, South Dakota. This marriage was blessed with four children, Ashley, Jeffery, Chad, and Amber. Tom and Jean resided in Lafayette. They shared almost 51 years of marriage.
Tom was employed as a truck driver for Lafayette Ready Mix, Langhoff Truck Line and Kraft Transport. He was a conscientious driver and was awarded the 3 Million Miles No Accident Award. In October 2004, he retired from Kraft Transport. Following his retirement from Kraft, Tom started working at the Lafayette UFC-Fertilizer Division, and re-retired in 2019. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Lafayette.
Tom loved old schooner sailboats and had several tattoos. He was an avid hydroplane racer for several years. Tom enjoyed motorcycling, mowing, skeet/trap shooting, spending winters in South Padre Island, Texas for several years. He loved the Green Bay Packers. Tom and Jean were office holders at the Winthrop Game Protective League for ten years.
Tom passed away on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at his residence in Lafayette, at the age of 72 years.
Blessed be his memory.
Tom is survived by his:
Wife, Jean Ahl of Lafayette, MN;
Children, Ashley Harrigan and her husband, Eugene, of Cottage Grove, MN,
Jeffery Ahl and his wife, Tracey, of White Bear Lake, MN,
Chad Ahl and his wife, Alecia, of Fargo, North Dakota,
Amber Huisinga and her husband, Jared, of Spicer, MN;
Grandchildren, Ivy Harrigan, Addyson Ahl, MacArthur Ahl, Julia Ahl, Eliott Huisinga, and Isaac Huisinga;
Sister, Lauren Achterkirch and her husband, Peter, of Wadena, MN;
Many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Tom is preceded in death by his Parents, Laurence and Hilma Ahl.
Cheri LeBrun says
Jean and family, thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time. Enjoyed when he came back in the spring to drive semi for us, he always had a sense of humor.
Jean says
Thanks Cheri for the warm wishes and memories of Tom. Yes, he did have a sense of humor.
Kim Hague says
I am so very sorry for your loss! Tom was always willing to stop and chat. God bless you and keep you!
Jean says
Thank you, Kim. He loved working at the Co-op and just plain driving. He certainly loved talking to people and missed it so much when he had to retire.
Dale Carlson says
My sincere condolences Jean.
Jean says
Thank you, Dale. It’ll certainly be a new beginning for the kids and me.
Aimee says
I’m so sorry Jean and family he sure will be missed in many ways ???
Jean says
Thank you for thinking of my kids and me.
Audrey Rath says
Thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. Loved Tom’s sense of humor & his ability to just be himself. May he rest in peace.
Jean says
Yes he truly was “almost” one of a kind. Thank you for thinking of us,
Jean says
Yes, he was known for his jokes and pranks. Always willing to help someone out if they needed it. Thank You.
Gale Smith says
I was sad to hear of my Kraft driving friend had passed away. He was really fun to visit with when he picked up cheese at the plant in Litchfield and he bought a few small pistols from me years ago for the boys. I will always think of him and his wit when we had time to talk. My sincere condolences to the family.
Esther Siller says
My deepest condolences and prayers are with the Ahl family. I am glad I got to know Tom when he and Jean spent the winters in South Padre Island, Texas. May he Rest In Peace.
StephanieWiegers says
Ahl Family,
Ashley, Gene, Ivy
We are so very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Xoxo Tim, Steph, Carson and CeCe Wiegers
Jean says
Thank you—my “Cheesy Rider” truly loved driving and talking!
Steve/Kathy Weyer says
Jean & family~ We are so sorry to learn of Tom’s passing. Let the happy memories help you through the difficult times ahead. Keeping you in our thoughts & prayers!
Jean says
Thank you! Its been a whirlwind here but we are good!
Gregory Dershem says
Jean:
I am so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. I truly enjoyed the time that you and Tom and I spent at WGPL. He will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Greg Dershem
Dawn Van Deest says
So sorry to hear about the passing of Tom. You have our sympathies.