Thomas Edward Dillehay

Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, August 21, 1948
Date of Death:
Friday, April 6, 2018
Age:
69 years old

Visitation

Date: Sunday April 15, 2018
Time: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]

Second Visitation

Date: Monday April 16, 2018
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]

Funeral Service

Date: Monday April 16, 2018
Time: 11:00 am

Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]

Burial

Location: Grandview Memorial Gardens [ view map ]

Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, August 21, 1948
Date of Death:
Friday, April 6, 2018
Age:
69 years old
Macken Funeral Home Memorial Photo
Date of Birth:
Saturday, August 21, 1948
Date of Death:
Friday, April 6, 2018
Age:
69 years old

Thomas Edward Dillehay

Thomas Dillehay, 69, of Rochester passed away unexpectedly on April 6 in Orlando, Florida.

Tom was born August 21, 1948 in Rochester to John and Eileen (Mayhew) Dillehay. He graduated from John Marshall High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1971 with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Tom continued his post-graduate education by earning a Master’s degree in education from Mankato State. He then taught junior and senior high school math for 13 years at Byron high school and was also an assistant track coach for several years there. In 1988 he was hired by IBM and he subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Winona State. He retired from IBM in 2006 and went on to work for CTG until 2013.

On March 22, 1980 he married Kay Ewing at Homestead Church in Rochester. Tom loved spending time with his family. He coached their baseball and soccer teams when his children were young and was a Boy Scout leader for his son’s troop, he was also an Eagle Scout himself. He enjoyed his retirement by traveling with his wife and taking his grandchildren on many trips to Disney World in Florida, rooting for the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins and watching old movies.

One of Tom’s proudest accomplishments was being a grandpa to Emma and Alex. He had such a special relationship with them and they love him so much. Tom was a huge supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since both Emma and Alex have CF.

Survivors include his wife, Kay; his children, Lisa (Chris Hart) Dillehay and Kevin Dillehey both of Rochester, two grandchildren, Emma and Alex Dillehay; his mother, Eileen; and two siblings, Janice (David) Healy of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Gary Dillehay of Chicago, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his father, John Dillehay.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, April 16, 2018 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Bruce Buller officiating. Visitation will take place from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Sunday, April 15 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations made in Tom’s memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Condolences

The family of Thomas Edward Dillehay has received the following condolences.

Our condolences to the Dillehay family on your loss. Prayers being sent your way.


With love, Gary and Sara

we were saddened to hear of Tommy’s unexpected death. It was always a joy to visit with all of you at the reunions in Tennessee. May god stretch his loving arms of comfort around each and every one of you. Your cousins , Bob and Kathy Dillahay. 

I want to offer my condolences.  I worked with Tom for many years at IBM.  He was a core member of my team -- I learned a lot from him, and we could always count on him to get the job done, and help others where needed.  Another smile has left the planet, but the memories of that smile live on to continue to brighten our lives. 


With Deepest Sympathy, Nancy Uthke-Schmucki

I am saddened to hear of Tom's passing. While we had only intermittent connections over the years, it was always a pleasure to visit with him. We grew up together at Homestead Church as well as having many classes together at JM. I even helped him coach a youth baseball team one summer. He always had a way with kids and I am sure his grandkids will miss him. Having seen him at the JM '66 reunion a couple years ago, it was just like we hadn't missed all that time. My deepest condolences to his family.

Tom and I grew up together at Homestead Church. We went to Sunday School and through confirmation together and were acolytes together in our youth. He was always, even then, kind, tender-hearted and soft spoken, but he held tenaciously to his faith and what he believed was right. Tom was a good and decent man. Though we’d seen each other off and on after my wife and I moved to Texas, it made me truly happy to reconnect and spend some time with him at our 50th JM Reunion. You are lucky in life if you have a friend that you might not see for long periods of time but, when you do get together, you can pick up like you were never apart. Tom was that kind of friend. It was such a shock to hear of his passing. Condolences to the family and his many friends. Rest In Peace, old Friend, until we meet again in glory.