Thomas Hiltunen

Thomas R. "Tom" Hiltunen, age 61 of Grey Eagle, died Friday, July 22, 2011 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Grey Eagle with Rev. Jon Benson officiating. Inurnment will be in Lakeview cemetery. Military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home in Grey Eagle.

Thomas Robert Hiltunen was born January 15, 1950 in Little Falls, Minnesota to Willard and Arlene (Ainali) Hiltunen. He graduated from Grey Eagle High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at St. Cloud State University, majoring in Geography. Tom served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Alaska for two years. On October 14, 1989 he married Sandra "Sandy" Johnson in Spring Lake Park. Tom worked as a purchasing manager for Data Collection Systems, Inc. / Highjump for over 20 years. He and Sandy had lived in the Minneapolis area until moving to Grey Eagle in 2003. He loved hunting and fishing, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and his dog, Lady. He also enjoyed watching the History channel, NASCAR, guns, reading the newspaper, and loved his rock and roll.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Hiltunen of Grey Eagle; children, Kurt Hiltunen of Minneapolis, Shane (fiancée, Laura) Meagher of Circle Pines, and Crystal (Christian) Meagher of Plymouth; mother, Arlene Hiltunen of Grey Eagle; and grandchildren, Austin, Aaron, Julie, Tessa, and Autumn.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Willard Hiltunen; dogs, Duke and Buddy; and other relatives and close friends.

Serving as urn bearers will be David Schwanke and Russell Schwanke. Honorary bearers will be David Schwanke, Russell Schwanke, Bob Meldaus, Jon Jr. Ainali, Neil Hagstrom, Jack Johnson, +David Scott, +Dale Meldaus, and +Gerald Spoo.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.