Tom Conroy

Tom Conroy, age 70, of Wheaton, MN passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at his residence in Wheaton surrounded by loved ones.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Cheryl Berg officiating. Organist will be LeAnn Bjornson.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 13th at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing. Visitation will continue Monday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery at a later date. Pallbearers will be Pat Marcus, Bill Conroy, Dan Conroy, Ron Conroy, Colleen Violet, John Conroy, Donna Conroy, Denise Shablow, Mike Conroy and Sandy Conroy. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bruce Conroy, Gene Borsheim, Kelly Klemm and Tom Tohm.

Thomas Ralph Conroy was born on March 1, 1952 in Graceville, MN to James and Marjorie Conroy as the 6th of 11 children.  Tom always called himself the peace maker, because he was right smack dab in the middle of his siblings. Tom graduated from Wheaton High School in 1970 and from NDSCS in 1972 with a degree in Architectural Drafting. Tom was an accomplished and feared wrestler in high school and college.  Tom married Marcie Berger on August 19th, 1972 in Dumont on ‘the hottest day of the year” - which was later credited as the first ever Dumont Street Dance, because it was so hot no one was in the Dumont Hall.

Tom and Marcie began to farm in 1976, ‘a year it didn’t rain even an inch’ as dad would say.  Marcie and Tom bought their current residence in 1979.  In 1982 they built the Quonset at the farm despite being told it ‘would break them’.  Shortly after that Tom was approached to sell seed and he found his calling.  Tom would often look out at the shop and tell us how it was the best decision he ever made.  Tom expanded his farm and seed business over the next 30 years.  In 2010 Tom introduced and mentored his son into seed sales and Tom took great pride in helping Trent grow his business.

Tom loved to visit with people and travel.  Tom and Marcie loved to take their children on many different adventures to foreign countries and loved to interact with the locals.  Tom loved to spend time with his brothers and friends doing many outdoor activities including golfing, hunting, fishing and riding motorcycle.  Every summer weekend was spent at the ‘Conroy Compound’ on Lake Traverse.  Tom bought a boat and he loved to teach all the Conroy cousins to water ski or tube.  He would often go through 3 service tanks of gasoline in a weekend.  He loved being known as a crazy driver and nobody laughed harder than Tom when a kid fell off the tube.

Tom wore many hats during his life and was known as many things.  Coon Dog, Husband, Dad, Uncle Tom, Tombo, but by far his favorite title was Grandpa.  He absolutely relished becoming a grandpa to his 5 grandchildren.  From go cart to gator rides to unloading seed with the girls on his lap with the forklift, Grandpa Tom made his kids very nervous over the years when he would just take off with his grandkids.  Seatbelts were optional with Grandpa.  The grandkids will miss his special eggs and the countless books he read to them.

Tom was an active and generous member of the community of Wheaton his entire life and absolutely prided himself on doing anything he could to help build it up.  He took great pride in helping people and especially watching ‘hired men’ move on to bigger and better things.

Tom is survived by his wife Marcie, daughter Anna Conroy (Ethan) Armstrong and son Trent (Brianna).  Grandchildren:  Etta Armstrong, Jaden, Briella, Kennedy and Tinley Conroy.  Siblings:  Pat Marcus, Bill (Bea) Conroy, Dan (Kathie) Conroy, Ron (Dang) Conroy, Colleen Violet (Steve) Hamann, John (Adeline) Conroy, Donna Conroy, Denise (Brian) Shablow, Mike (Tami) Conroy, sister-in-law Sandy Conroy and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jim, stepfather Jerry Frisch, and nephew, Steven Conroy and niece, Teresa Conroy.

To keep Tom’s generous community spirit going, all memorials will be given to the Wheaton Hospital Ambulance service which is raising money for a mechanical lift which will cost $45,000.  If you would like to donate:  Wheaton Ambulance Service, 401 12th Street North, Wheaton, MN 56296.