Thomas Allmaras

Thomas Charles Allmaras was born on August 22, 1926 in New Rockford, North Dakota, the son of Charles and Irene Allmaras. His family included 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He attended grade school in Munster, N.D. and later attended high school at St. James Academy in New Rockford. Tom played football on the first team the academy ever had. Tom was only 15 years old when his father, Charles, was shot and killed in the line of duty as sheriff of Eddy County. The next year, 1943, Tom enlisted in the US Navy where he served his country for 3 years. His time in the Navy included service in the Pacific theater of World War II. After his discharge from the navy, he began working for the Great Northern Railroad, in Minot, ND. He spent 42 years working as a conductor/brakeman in various locations in North Dakota. One day in his early years of working; on his way into work, he met his cousin in a restaurant where the cousin was dining with two lovely young ladies. Tom was asked to join the trio and there was an immediate connection between Tom and one of the girls, so he decided to call in sick for his day of railroad work and stay and try and get to know this girl a little better. Her name was Irene Jones and the two of them proceeded to the wedding altar on November 29, 1951 in Minot. Tom and Irene celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2012. They had four children, Michael, E Grand Forks, ND; Beverly, Sun City West, AZ; Mary(who preceded them in death in 2008) and Mark, Waterloo, IN. Tom and Irene lived in Minot for 3 ½ years, New Rockford for 4 years and Wahpeton, ND for 25 years. The family attended St. John Catholic Church in Wahpeton. They spent many summers with family and friends at their lake home on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. After retiring from the railroad in 1988, they spent their winters in McAllen Texas for 4 years. In 1992 they changed their pursuit of the winter warmth to Sun City, AZ where they have been spending their winters ever since. Tom and Irene have been blessed with 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; along with the Scott and Zona Mielke family who is their “Arizona adopted” family. Thomas had a rich full life, he was a very outgoing and generous man and respected by all who crossed his path. He passed away on May 9, 2012 at his home in Sun City with close family members and hospice nurse at his side. He knew he was going home to His Heavenly Father. Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ.