Tom Tiemens

Tom Tiemens, 84, died November 19, 2022, in Ramsey. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec, 10, at First Baptist Church of Anoka.

Tom was born on November 24, 1937 in Elkhorn, Wisc., the son of Frank and Leila (Mathewson) Tiemens. Tom attended Pillager High School, graduating with the Class of 1955. He majored in music education at St. Cloud State College, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1959. He later obtained his master’s degree in music education  from the University of Minnesota.

Tom married Karen Broman on March 7, 1959, in Minneapolis. They lived in Westbrook where he taught for three years before he taking a position teaching vocal music at Mounds View School District. His years at Mounds View included a period at Edgewood Junior High School and several years at Irondale High School.

Tom also spent 14 years working as the first director of the Mounds View North Environmental Learning Center located north of Virginia. Tom and Karen returned to the Twin Cities where Tom resumed teaching prior to his retirement. Over the years Tom served as church choir director for several churches in communities where they lived. 

In retirement Tom operated a busy piano tuning business and enjoyed fishing, spending winters in Florida and time at the Blackwater Lake cabin with children and grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his wife Karen; one son, Terry (Marla); three daughters, Tamara Gatzke, Julie (Scott) Johnson and Jennifer (Jerry) Medin; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Pat (Tom) Crawford of Staples and Emily (Mercer) Englund of East Bethel; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Mildred Teders; two brothers, Myron and Bill and an infant grandchild.

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