Thomas Speed

Thomas John Speed was born June 19, 1952, in Brainerd, Minnesota. His parents were the late Glenn and Charlotte (Martinson) Speed. Tom graduated from Wadena High School with the class of 1970. Tom furthered his education at Brainerd Central Lakes Community and Technical College and then Wadena Vocational Technical College.

On October 19, 1974, Tom was united in marriage with Cheryl Berning at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena, Minnesota. Together Tom and Cheryl made their home in Wadena as their marriage was blessed with a son, Shawn. 

Tom was employed as the operating manager at Branson Ambulance in Wadena for 8 years. He taught Emergency Medical Technology for the State of Minnesota from 1975-1976 as well as being employed at Time Jewelry in Staples from 1975-1982. Tom was employed with the Wadena County Sheriff’s Department from 1982 as jail administrator until he retired in 2014. Tom and Cheryl made their home at the family lake lot on Nord Lake, rural Aitkin, Minnesota.

Tom enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, bowling, and playing cards. He loved and cherished spending time with his family and friends at Nord Lake. Tom was a member of the Ajax Coffee Club, and the Wadena Elks Lodge.

On August 25, 2024, Tom passed away at Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin, Minnesota after battling Lewy Body Dementia. Tom is preceded in death by his parents: Glenn and Charlotte Speed; father and mother-in-law: Jerry & Betty Berning; sister-in-law: Mary Speed; and nephews: Jason Berning; and Joshua Simmons.

Tom is survived by his wife, Cheryl Speed; son, Shawn (Tammy) Speed; grandsons: Thomas Speed; Benjamin Speed; Danny Gordon; and Kenny (Nathan) Gordon; granddaughters: Kari (Chris) Steece; and Allison (Isaac) Novak; great-grandson: Malachi Novak; great-granddaughter: Rylee Gordon; siblings: Brad Speed; Steve (Sandy) Speed; Michelle Speed; ten nieces; three nephews; 14 great nieces; nine great-nephews (and one on the way); 3 great-great nieces; 2 great-great-nephews; special friends: Beaver (Dianne) Johnson; and Dan (Terri Sue) Wruck; his dog, Sully, who was like a child to Tom; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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