Thomas R. Wickert, 80, of Baltic died Friday, September 5, 2014 at Sanford USD Medical Center.
Memorial services will begin at 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Southeastern Church of Christ, Sioux Falls. Memorial visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. Monday with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids. Condolences may be left at http://www.minnehahafuneralhome.com.
Thomas R. Wickert was born on September 8, 1933 to Leona and Harry Wickert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended elementary and high school in Milwaukee. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for two years. After his honorable discharge, he attended college to become a Master Machinist. After graduating from college, he worked for Allis Chalmers as a machinist until they closed. He then traveled the world setting up ink press machines for various companies.
In 2000, he moved to an acreage outside of Baltic, South Dakota where he resided until his death. On November 13, 2004 he married Carolyn Bailey at Southeastern Church of Christ in Sioux Falls surrounded by family and friends. They spent their years together traveling, raising animals, and enjoying time with family and friends. They loved and enjoyed every day that they had together. Tom enjoyed going to auctions, spending time with his best buddy “Jim” working on cars and farm equipment, spending time with his church “family”, hunting, fishing, and building and flying model airplanes with the Sod Busters model airplane group.
Tom fought a courageous battle against cancer and never complained. In the last hours of his life, he was surrounded by his wife, step-children, and step-grandchildren. He will be remembered for his kindness, gentle soul, his love of life and animals, and his wonderful stories.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Carolyn (Bailey) Wickert of Baltic. His children: Bryan (Melissa) Bailey, of Dell Rapids; Paul Bailey of Dell Rapids; Kathy (Randy) Reiners of Baltic; and Desiree (Kyle) Dammer of Dell Rapids. His grandchildren: Maggie Richter, Lance Richter, Jennifer Bailey, Kirsten Bailey, Kylee Bailey, Shelby Bailey, Michael Bailey, Jakob Bailey, Lizzie Bailey, Paislee Dammer, Anistyn Dammer, and one great grandchild, Madison Bailey. He is also survived by a son, John (Karen) Wickert and two grandchildren, Dustin and Miranda Wickert.