Thomas Edward Papenfuss was born March 28, 1956, in Perham, Minnesota. His parents were the late Edward & Alvira (Wulf) Papenfuss. Thomas graduated from New York Mills High School with the class of 1974.

After high school, Tom went to work on road construction with excavating contractors Kern & Tabery, Inc. in Wadena, Minnesota. Tom eventually joined working with his dad at Papenfuss Construction. 

On May 14, 1988, Thomas was united in marriage with Sheri Lynn Winter at the St. Peter’s church in New York Mills. Together they would reside in Bluffton, later moving to rural New York Mills (aka Heinola) where they have resided for thirty-eight years.

Tom was employed with the Wadena Silo Company and went on to work for Lund Boat Company in New York Mills for 29 years. He was also employed at 3M in Alexandria for a year and a half, respectively retiring due to health reasons. 

Tom enjoyed riding motorcycles, camping, mowing his lawn, polishing his Valkyrie, as well as watching Rifle Man and Star Trek. Above all else, he appreciated spending time with his family.

On July 5, 2026, Tom passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota at 70 years of age.  He will be dearly missed by his friends and family. Preceding him in death were his parents Edward and Alvira, his infant brother Gregory, and his father-in-law Lyle Winter.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife Sheri Papenfuss of New York Mills; children: Kristi (Jeremy) Ravenscraft of Bertha; Dawn Doll of Smithville, TN; Dena (Chris) Perry of Detroit Lakes; Shasta (Robert) Squires of Menahga; and Jacob (Silvia) Papenfuss of Crestview, Florida; 7 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild with another on the way; siblings: Gayle (Wayne) Schmidt of Melby; Jerry (Elvira) Papenfuss of Yelleville, AR; Wendy (Peter) Bosl of Long Prairie; mother-in-law: Doris Winter of Clarissa; along with many other relatives and a host of friends.