Tom H. Donovan, 90 died peacefully in his home on November 24, 2016 in Hartland, MN. Funeral Services for Tom will be at 10:30, Saturday December 10th at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland. Fr. Michael Cronin will officiate. Interment will be at St. Theodores Catholic Cemetery in Albert Lea after the service. There will be a review on Friday evening from 4 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service and rosary beginning at 7.
Tom was born on July 18th, 1926 to parents Thomas and Mary (Nolan) Donovan. He attended school in Hartland and graduated from Freeborn High School. He was in the army from 1945 – 1946. He shipped out to Manilla the day the war ended. He worked in the General Headquarters as a clerk. He was also stationed in Tokyo and Yokohama.
He married the love of his life Marguerite Bergen on June 28, 1958 at St. Theodores in Albert Lea. After a brief time working at a bank in Minneapolis after the war, he realized big city work was not for him. He returned to Hartland and farmed for 10 years, worked at Cargill in Hartland for 6 years and spent the rest of his career at the Richland Coop in New Richland, first in sales, then as the general manager.
He was a member of All Saints Church in New Richland, the American Legion Club in New Richland and the VFW club in Waseca. He was a former member of the Dominic Club in Albert Lea. This was a group for single Catholics. This is where he met Marguerite and many other lifelong friends.
He is survived by his daughter Mary (Mike) Quinlivan, and grandchildren Ryan (Elizabeth) and Emily Quinlivan. Brother-in-laws Jack Bergen and Pat (Nancy) Bergen, and their children and grandchildren. Also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. Preceded in death by Marguerite, parents, brothers Raymond, William, Leo (Murph), John (Monica), Joe and sisters Fran (Carl) Mickelson, and Catherine (John) Lee.
In lieu of flowers, we would like it if people would make a donation to FOCUS, an organization that ministers to the Catholic faith to college students, memo: Alison Anderson 44786, mail to PO Box 18710 Golden, CO 80402-9809 or to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice. This group was wonderful in taking care of all of us in the last month. Mail to: 1705 SE Broadway, Albert Lea, MN 56007.