Alfred “Al” “Chuck” Thomas, 78, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. His funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2021 in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home. www.kahlerfh.com

Alfred “Al” Charles “Chuck” Thomas was born on November 26, 1942 at Milbank, SD, the son of Lester and Mary Thomas. He grew up and attended school in Milbank graduating from Milbank High School in 1961. After high school he enlisted into the United States Navy and served in Vietnam. When he was discharged in February of 1965, he then enlisted into the South Dakota National Guard while working for Dakota Granite in Milbank. He married Sandra Overby in 1962, to this union three sons were born, Charles “Tom”, Billy and Jimmy. In 1972, he married Candy Strube. The couple had had a daughter, Jennifer and a son, Douglas.  The couple moved to Dell Rapids in 1976 when Al started driving for Jackrabbit Bus. He then was an owner/operator for Midwest Coast as a truck driver and then worked security for EROS Data Center. Al retired in 2008.

Al was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids and a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW.

He enjoyed watching the grandkids and the granddogs. He always enjoyed a good joke and storytelling, having coffee with his friends, tinkering with things, woodworking and traveling to visit family. He and Candy went to Alaska on a cruise three different times. He was die hard Vikings and Twins fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Bruce Thomas, James Thomas, Donald Thomas and Lowell Thomas (brothers) and sisters Jeannette Nord, Marion Smith, Geraldine Berger, Joyce Swedberg and Peggy Paulsen.

Al is survived by his wife, Candy of Dell Rapids; his daughter, Jennifer Voss of Sioux Falls; his sons, Douglas (Sarah) Thomas, James Thomas, Billy Thomas and Charles “Tom” (Lee) Thomas all of Sioux Falls; his ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; his sister, Irene Konshak of Milbank; his four brothers-in-law, his four sisters-in-law and his many friends and extended family.