Thomas W. Custer

Thomas W. Custer, a resident of Brownsville Township, MN since 1991, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 12, 2018. He was born in Cokato, MN in 1945 to James and Luella (Claessens) Custer and lived for the first few years with his family in Waverly, MN. He moved with his family to southern California where he spent his youth. He was educated in the California school system and ultimately received his PhD in Zoology from the University of California, Berkley in 1974.

His first professional job was with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. He was next stationed in Victoria, TX along the Gulf Coast, and then finally moved to the upper Midwest to take a job at what is now the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, WI. He remained a research scientist with the Department of Interior for the rest of his career producing more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He worked until his death because that is what he loved to do. His passion was to collect and analyze data and then publish those findings. His research focused primarily on the effects of contaminants on bird populations. He worked mostly on aquatic birds, such as the black-crowned night heron, many other heron and egret species, as well as, terns and waterfowl. More recently he used tree swallows to understand contaminant effects. He also studied the energetics of Lapland longspurs near Barrow, AK, declining moose populations in northwestern MN, and even worked on lizard species in NM.

He investigated an eclectic mix of contaminants including PCBs, dioxins and furans, and trace metals such as mercury and lead, but he was more recently delving into the effects of many of the newer contaminants such as the brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, his brother and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Suzanne Custer of Annandale, MN, and several nieces and nephews and their children. Arrangements are being handled by Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, La Crescent, MN. A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2018 from 1 until 5pm at Celebrations on the River (Shenanigans), 2100 Dawson Ave., French Island.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider taking a concrete action that is helpful for the environment. Online guestbook may be signed at www.schumacher-kish.com .