Louis H. Tomschin

Louis (Louie) Henry Tomschin passed away at 92 years of age on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.

 A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, MN; Pastor Mark Boorsma will officiate.  Louis’ family will greet guests at a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Military Honors will be provided by the Freeborn County Honor Guard following the service at the church.  Interment will be at Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, MN.

Louie, the son of Walter Sr. and Minne (Elsing) Tomschin, was born on March 17, 1931 in his parents’ rural Springfield, MN home.  He was the youngest son of ten children.  At the age of 23, Louie enlisted in the US Army, serving two years during the Korean War. While serving, he earned the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the rank of Specialist 3rd Class. 

After returning home, Louie met Phyllis Toenges.  They enjoyed many dances together at George’s Ballroom and were united in marriage on June 5, 1959 at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake. They made their first home in Sleepy Eye, where their children, Randy and Brenda were born.  After Brenda died, they moved to Albert Lea, where their third child, JoAnn was born.  In 1972, they purchased land outside of Alden and built their family farm.  Together, Louie and Phyllis provided a wonderful farm life for their children.  The garden was always filled with produce and flowers and the barns were filled with animals.  Louie took pride in his farm and was so happy that it could stay in the family when he moved to St. Johns.

Throughout life, Louie worked hard.  He drove semi truck for Krueger Trucking and Reddemann Trucking of Sleepy Eye.  He also worked for the City of Sleepy Eye Power Plant. Upon moving to Albert Lea, he became employed at Naeve Hospital, where he worked for over 30 years.  He also farmed the land around his acreage and raised sheep, cattle, and chickens.  After retiring from the hospital, he continued as a boiler operator for many years at Green Giant in Blue Earth.  Louie was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church and the American Legion.  In his free time, Louie enjoyed fishing and hunting, working in his garden, and attending the activities of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Some of Louie’s favorite memories were wintering in Arizona with Phyllis, spending time with his family, and enjoying his farm.

Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Sr. and Minnie; infant daughter, Brenda; brothers and sisters-in-law Charles, Ben (Neva), Clarence, Walter (Margaret), John (Mildred);  sisters and brothers-in-law Minnie (Ralph) Holberg, Viola (Merlin) Miller, Dennis Shumway, and Dorothy (Leonard) Wersal.

Left to cherish Louie’s memory is his wife of 63 years, Phyllis of Albert Lea; son, Randy (Sandra) Tomschin of Alden; daughter, JoAnn (Chad) Eaton of Armstrong, IA; sister, Alice Shumway of Heron Lake; grandchildren, Bradley (Jessica) Tomschin, Alden, Kelly (Steven) Krell, Blooming Prairie, Andrea (Daniel) Larson, Alden, Jaycie Eaton, Waukee, IA, Nathan Eaton, Ames, IA, and Maxwell Eaton, Armstrong, IA; great grandchildren: Shay, Briggs, Layne, Leo, Henry, and Quinn; as well as many nieces and nephews.