Thomas Melo

Thomas Melo, age 54 of Newport, Minnesota, passed away on May 29, 2021 surrounded by his family at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury of complications from diabetes.

A memorial service will be 11 am, Friday, June 4, 2021 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S, Cottage Grove with visitation one hour prior.

Tom was born September 29, 1966 in Hastings, Minnesota.  He attended Pullman Elementary, Oltman Junior High and graduated from Park High School in Cottage grove in 1985.

As a little boy, Tom loved trains, car washes, the “Old Bridge”, lunch with Casey Jones, Evil Knievel and the Fonz from Happy Days.  As a reward/bribe for being a ring bearer in his sister’s wedding, he scored a Fonzie T-shirt.

Throughout his life, Tom was known for taking excellent care of anything he was in charge of from keeping lawns and landscaping trimmed and green, wintertime shoveling driveways to the exemplary way he cared for his cars (His family always wanted to make sure their cars were clean before Tom would see them!).  Together with his brother Dan, he enjoyed fishing at their favorite lakes including Big Marine, Lake of the Woods, small lakes in Lindstrom and even the dam in Thief River Falls.  Unforgettable memories for Tom were catching Twins and Vikings games at the Old Met Stadium.

He is survived by his mother, Shirley Melo; brother Daniel Melo; sister Patricia (Steve) Storby along with nieces Stefanie and Jennie; nephew Joel; special friend Sara as well as one great niece, five great nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  Tom will also be dearly missed by his cats Bubba and Pebbles along with his guinea pigs Xena, Goober and Gomer.

He is preceded in death by his father Wendell Melo; his paternal grandparents Inga and Conrad Melo and maternal grandparents Elsie and Albert Hodik.