Thomas C. Mason

Thomas Carlyle Mason, 94, of La Crosse, WI, passed away on Monday, February 5, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Living in La Crosse. Tom was born on June 6, 1929, to Reverend Joseph Mason and Susanna (Thomas) Mason in Morris Run, Pennsylvania.

The family moved to New Lisbon, Wisconsin when Tom was in the 8th Grade.  His father became the Pastor of the Methodist Church.  The family later moved to Durand, Wisconsin when Tom was a Sophomore in High School.  He was Captain of the High School football, baseball, and basketball teams.

After graduation from High School in 1948, he was drafted into the Army and fought for his country in the Korean war as a Staff Sergeant to a mortar crew.  Upon being discharged from the Army in 1952, he married Marian Grippen.  Following marriage, he attended College in Minneapolis and moved to Winona, Minnesota.

Tom worked for the Milwaukee Road railroad for 15 years as a telegrapher and at the same time, Tom and Marian started Mason’s Furniture and Rug Cleaning.  Tom later joined H. Choate & Co. in Winona and Roth Flor Mart in La, Crosse, WI to pursue his talent as an Interior Decorator/Designer.

Tom excelled in all sports and donated time to the church and YMCA taking the lead with many corn/brat/chicken feeds and ice cream socials.  Tom was a runner, racquet ball player, and participated in many volleyball leagues. Tom was also an active golfer and bowler which led to memorable times traveling to acclaimed golf courses and tournaments with his friends.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman which included many canoe trips with the Boy Scouts, including a 100-miler down the Red Cedar, Chippewa, and Mississippi Rivers.  Tom enjoyed all types of hunting, boating, and fishing on the Mississippi River.

Tom is survived by his ex-wife Marian; daughter Monica (Eldon); sons, Mark (Susan), Kent, Matthew (Patricia), 12 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two sisters, Phyllis Ida and Mary Lou Gillgren.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the La Crescent United Methodist Church, 520 North Elm St., La Crescent, MN 55947. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Rev. Dianne Ciesluk will officiate. Tom will be laid to rest at the Fairchild Cemetery in Fairchild, Wisconsin.