Thomas Alfred Camerer, 72, passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at his home in rural Blooming Prairie, MN, surrounded by his family following an 8 ½ month courageous battle with cancer.

Tom was born December 31, 1939, in Austin, MN, the son of Lloyd and Pearl (Eggestein) Camerer. He spent the first 12 years of his life in Austin, eventually living in Blooming Prairie. He was confirmed in 1958 at First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, and attended school in both Austin and Blooming Prairie public schools. He worked with his step-dad, Axel, in Blooming Prairie in the trucking business and later at the Chevrolet garage. He then worked at A.J. Lysne Contracting Corporation in Owatonna before retiring after 25 years. Tom was a volunteer fireman for Blooming Prairie for many years.

Tom was united in marriage to Marcia Kruckeberg on August 10, 1962, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Claremont and they were married for 48 years. Tom loved fishing, especially enjoying his fall Canadian trips with the cousin crew and the Gulf of Mexico fishing excursions with his cousin, Wayne. He also enjoyed picking on his grandchildren, playing cards, wintering in Port Aransas, TX, and his time spent with family. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Marcia, of rural Blooming Prairie; three sons, Wade and Wendy Camerer of Ellendale, MN; Randy of Owatonna, MN; and Barry of Blooming Prairie; 4 grandchildren; Brooke of Owatonna; Thomas and Brittni of Colorado Springs, CO; Cory and Kayley of Ellendale; 3 brothers, Calvin and Joan Camerer of Andover, MN; Marvin Camerer, of Blooming Prairie; Rick and Nancy Hansen of Blooming Prairie; 3 sisters, Leone and Billy Vavra and Roxanne and Calvin Boyd, all of Blooming Prairie; and Robin and Pat Berg of Owatonna; Brother-in-law Dale Garness of Blooming Prairie and sister-in-law Sherry Kruckeberg, also of Blooming Prairie and held dear his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his step-father Eugene (Axel) Hansen, his sisters, Carol Garness and Romell Camerer and brother-in-law Kevin Kruckeberg.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with Pastor Charlie Leonard officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and one hour before the service at the church. Interment will be at Owatonna Memorial Gardens, Owatonna, MN. Donations are preferred to the American Cancer Society, Homestead Hospice of Owatonna or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.worlein.com.

Blessed be the memory of our husband, father, grandfather and friend.