Tamara Lynn Thatcher
Monday, May 12, 1958
Date of Death:
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Age:
58 years old
Monday, May 12, 1958
Date of Death:
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Age:
58 years old
Monday, May 12, 1958
Date of Death:
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Age:
58 years old
Tamara Lynn Thatcher
Tami Lynn Thatcher was born in Norman, Oklahoma on May 12th, 1958, to Richard and Eleanor Thatcher. As the first born and older sister to Brad and Elise, she found herself the leader and boss.
Tami passed away Sunday, February 19, 2017, in Denver, Colorado, from a respiratory infection (ARDS). Her family was by her side.
Tami attended Longfellow Elementary School, Kellogg Junior High School and Mayo High School. She graduated in 1976. She was a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, she was a very successful swimmer and served as captain of the Mayo Girls Swim Team. She also participated on the Mayo High School Drill Team. Tami spent her summers in Rochester teaching swimming lessons to hundreds of Rochester and rural Rochester children. During this time, she discovered her passion to teach.
Tami attended The University of Colorado at Boulder following high school. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Art Degree and went on to teach for the Adams 12 School District for 25 years. She retired in 2013.
In 1997, Tami married Joel Hamm. The marriage ended in divorce. Tami and Joel continued to share a beautiful daughter, Maya Lynn, age 18. The greatest role in Tami’s life was to be a great mother to Maya, who was the most important person in her life.
Tami loved living in Colorado. Regular requests to move back to Minnesota by her family were unsuccessful. She was a perfect Boulder fit and thrived with her many friends and co-workers there. She was a brilliant downhill skier and a devoted Colorado Buffalo football fan. She spent many holidays scuba diving in the Cayman Islands with her brother and sister. Being excellent swimmers and divers, Tami, Brad and Elise were known for stretching the Dive Master’s directions (making the Dive Master very nervous).
Tami had a beautiful easy smile, she was bright, funny and warm, and she was generous to her family and friends. She will be missed by so many.
Tami is survived by her daughter, (Maya); parents, Richard and Eleanor Thatcher; brother, Bradley (Laurie); sister, Elise (Tom); nieces and nephews, Benjamin, Kaitlin and Jillian Thatcher; Anna and Cameron Laedtke.
The memorial service to celebrate Tami’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 21, 2017 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1105 12th St. S.E., Rochester, MN 55904) with Pastor John Maley officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society.
Condolences
The family of Tamara Lynn Thatcher has received the following condolences.
I am so saddened by the news of Tami's passing. I had lost touch with her upon leaving Wyco in 1994 but never forgot her energy, quick wit and love for children and science.
She will be missed.
Please accept my heartfelt wishes for peaceful healing and fond memories. Tami has a special place in my heart.
Love, Robin Motisi
Dear Thatcher family. I am very sorry to have read of the recent death of Tamara. Please accept my most sincere condolences. I would like to share something that I have personally found to be very comforting. It is found in the Bible at John 5:28,29 and also at Revelation 21:3-5. These verses tell us that soon God is going to bring about a resurrection of our dear loved ones, as well as do away with all of the many causes we have for suffering, including sickness, pain & death. Knowing this has always comforted me and it is my hope that these thoughts will likewise comfort your family also during this most difficult time in your lives.
I was very sad to learn about the passing of Tammy. My prayers go out to everyone who was close to her and especially her family.
Dearest Thatcher family,
I was so sorry to hear of Tammy's passing. I remember her fondly from all the years of swimming with and against her - I mostly remember being in her powerful wake trying to catch her.
She always had a smile, and I can almost hear her laugh as I write this.
Peace to you all.
Deb (Kroll) Streiff
Coach and Family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Victor Hallberg e-mailed me today. Although I didn't know Tamara, having fond memories of you I felt the need to send my condolences. I have a son and daughter and can only imagine what it would be to loose one.
I don't get back to Rochester very much since both my parents have passed. I was there 2 years ago with my brother Fred and we tried to look you up but you were out of town. I'll try again next time I'm there.
Best regards
John Salassa and family.
Elise,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
"Hold tight to memories for comfort, lean on your friends for strength, and always remember how much you are cared about."
Jackie Johnson-Howell
Thoughts and prayers to the Thatcher family. May God hold you in the palm of his hand during this difficult time.
We look forward to seeing our loved ones again because of the Bible's promise at Acts 24:15 "And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." We all look forward to the resurrection, because no matter who we are we have all loss a loved one in death. On that day Jesus will call the dead ones and they will answer according to John 5:28,29. May your memories of your loved one comfort you, like the memories of my loved ones have comforted me. Most of all may you look to Jehovah God for comfort, because he comforts us in times of distress as found in Psalms 46:1. Please accept my deepest sympathy, and may Jehovah God comfort you and your family during this difficult time. For more comforting information please refer to JW.ORG.
Dick and Ellie,
So sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Arden and Judy Willford
Dick and Eleanor,
I was saddened to hear that your daughter passed away. My thoughts are with you and your family.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Pat MacLean
Red Wing, MN
Dick and Ellie,
May you find comfort during this time of your heartache. Tami has now found peace with God. You are in our prayers. We love you both!
Bob and Mariann Gray
My heart goes out to Dick, Ellie, Brad, Elise, Maya, and the rest of the Thatcher family. For years I have had the pleasure of being Tami's dear friend and also a welcome guest at the Thatcher home. My prayers and loving thoughts are with you all. Thank you to the family for sharing Tami with me over the years and during the days before her passing. What a privilege to have been with you for comfort and happy memories. I raise my glass to Elise who has been a pillar of strength for the entire family. We have lost a beautiful being on this earth. Tami was my dearest friend and I will miss her. People come into our lives for a reason, and that is certainly true of Tami for me. Quoting a lyric from "Wicked," this says it all. "It may be that we will never meet again in the lifetime so let me say before we part, So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end I know you have rewritten mine . . . by being my friend." Rest in peace Tamara Lynn.
So sorry to read of Tami ' s passing. She held a fond place in my heart.
I am sad beyond words at the loss of my dear friend. Tami was fun, joyful & a loyal friend. I cherish the time I spent with her. She's one of my angels now. Much love to you all. Sandie
Dick and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.