Thomas Hoeschen

Thomas Melvin Hoeschen, age 49, of Albany, died surrounded by his family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on Friday, August 19, 2011 at Albany Area Hospital in Albany.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany with Father Jonathan Licari, O.S.B officiating. A private inurnment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN at a later date. Military honors will be provided by the Upsala Legion Post #350.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 12 to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Seven Dolors gathering area in Albany. Parish prayers will be at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at Seven Dolors gathering area.

Tom Hoeschen was born September 13, 1961 in Melrose, Minnesota to Lawrence and Lorraine (Koopmeiners) Hoeschen. Tom proudly served his country in the US Army from 1980 -1983. On February 28, 1987 he married Clara M. Watry in Albany, MN. The couple farmed on the Hoeschen family farm six miles north of Freeport until July 1988 when a massive fire destroyed their farm. The couple lived in Freeport from 1992 to 2002, and then moved to Albany where they currently reside. Tom worked at St. Joseph Feed Mill in St. Joseph, Frigidaire Freezer Division in St. Cloud, St. Cloud Engraving in Waite Park, Gluek Brewing Co. in Cold Spring and Albany Elementary School from 2007 until he was diagnosed with cancer in January 2010 when he became unable to work.

He was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany, Upsala Legion Post #350. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, wine making, gardening, telling stories and giving advice. He especially enjoyed spending time with his wife, dogs; Tea' and Tabby, family and friends.

Survivors include his loving wife of 24 years, Clara Hoeschen of Albany; dogs, Tea and Tabby; mother, Lorraine Hoeschen of Albany; brothers and sisters, Renee (Ivan) Blenker of Melrose, Ted (Mary) Hoeschen of Freeport, Joan (Pat) Rollison of St. Augusta, Jeff (Cheryl) Hoeschen of Freeport, Paul (Sara) Hoeschen of Cold Spring, Larry (Elaine) Hoeschen of Freeport; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Janice (Gary) Nohner of Richmond, Ardis (Bill) Zaier of Maple Grove, Steven (Mary Lou) Watry of Albany, Herbert (Monica) Watry of Litchfield, Kevin (Monetta) Watry of Albany, Edward Watry, Jr. of Albany and Faye Luberts (Larry Ruether) of Alexandria; godson, Dustin Watry and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; in-laws, Edward Sr. and MaDonna Watry; infant brother, Howard; brother, Richard "Rick" on August 12, 2011; infant brother-in-law, Arnold Watry; nephews, Daryl Blenker and Adam Watry; special dog, Tobie.

The Hoeschen family would like to thank the Coborn Cancer Center, St. Cloud Hospital and Albany Area Hospital & Hospice for their sincere care during Tom's battle with cancer; and to our family and friends for their support, thoughts and prayers.

Serving as casket bearers will be Tom's brothers, Ted Hoeschen, Jeff Hoeschen, Paul Hoeschen, Larry Hoeschen, brothers in-law, Steven Watry, Herbert Watry, Kevin Watry, Edward Watry, Jr. Serving as cross bearer will be Renee Blenker and scripture bearer will be Joan Rollison.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.