Michael Thomas

Michael ‘Mike’ D. Thomas, 76, of Litchfield, MN, passed away at his home on Friday, July 5, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Friday at First Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held at Ripley Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. The service will be live streamed at www.johnsonhagglund.com. 

Michael Delbert Thomas, the son of Delbert and Adeline (Herr) Thomas, was born on May 3, 1948, in Litchfield, MN. During his high school years at Litchfield High School, Mike found an interest in rodeo and won awards for Bareback Bronc Riding and bull riding. Unfortunately, his rodeo days were cut short due to multiple concussions. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1966 and continued his education at Worthington Junior College. While at Worthington, Mike was a member of the Men’s Basketball team, where he quickly coined the nickname, “Seven Bounce Thomas.” This was given to him due to the fact that he would bounce the ball seven times every time he was at the free throw line. After two years of college, Mike was drafted into the US Army and served our country during the Vietnam War. While serving, Mike quickly moved up the ranks, and was promoted to SGT of his company. He was wounded on two separate occasions and was awarded a Purple Heart. After being discharged in 1971, he returned to college and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. While living in Sioux Falls, he taught special education, where he eventually would meet his future wife. He also coached basketball at O’Gorman High School. 

In 1977, Mike’s father called to tell him about an opportunity in Litchfield. Litchfield Livestock Shipping Association was going to be auctioning off two of their trucks. Mike ended up purchasing those two livestock trucks at an auction, and would later turn those two trucks into a 25 plus-truck fleet known as Litchfield Shipping, Inc. Mike and his wife Gaylene owned and operated Litchfield Shipping Inc. for over 40 years before retiring and selling the business in 2017. Mike’s brother Gene also worked out of the same building, as they each ran their own trucking operation. Mike was grateful that he could work side-by-side with his brother Gene for so many years. It was something that he cherished deeply. Mike also served on the Board for Midwest Safety Group, a self-insured workers compensation program for Minnesota Trucking Companies for several years. 

On December 30, 1978, he was united in marriage to Gaylene Herzog at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFW, where he was the past Post Commander and District Commander. Mike had a special gift of being able to talk to anyone and everyone that he came across. Some of his real joys in life were spending time with his four children. He also enjoyed; golfing, fishing, hunting, collecting wine, playing cribbage and racquetball, taking trips to the casino and fishing trips to Canada. He had a lifelong love of traveling and was able to visit Europe, Washington D.C., La Quinta, CA, Laughlin, NV, Jamaica, and annual family trips to Sanibel Island in Florida with the Loftness family. The thing he loved the most though, was spending time with his seven grandchildren. He was a very proud Grandpa. 

Mike is survived by his wife Gaylene of Litchfield, MN; daughter, Dr. Michele Thomas (Dr. Jay Brieler) of St. Louis, MO, and their children Isabel and Sophia Brieler, daughter, Tracy (Nick) Gabrielson of Litchfield, and their children Jorja, Coralynn, and Hudsen, daughter, Teresa (Jamie) Strowbridge of Litchfield, and their children Jamieson and Brielle, and son, Matthew Thomas (Anni Rogness) of Palm Desert, CA; brothers Terry (Janice) Thomas of Indianapolis, IN, and their children Brad (Melody), Tammy (Kevin), Corey and families, Pat (Penny) Thomas of Rochester, MN, and their children Troy, Trent (Heather), Trevor (Kersten) and families, sister Deby Thomas of St. Paul, sister in-law Valda Thomas of Litchfield, MN, and her daughter Gina (Craig) Lokken and families; nephews John, David and Daniel Voss. He was preceded in death by his parents Delbert and Adeline, Brother Gene, Nephew Mark, mother-in-law Twyla, and sister-in-law Lynnie. 

The family wishes to thank the ER Staff at Meeker Memorial Hospital, St. Cloud Hospital, Bethesda Rehab and Litchfield Hospice. 

Memorials preferred to Meeker County Veterans Council. 

Michael’s legacy of love, kindness, dedication, and service will be remembered by all who knew him.