Thomas "Tom" Rice

Thomas M. Rice passed away November 15, 2017, in Mayo St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. There will be a celebration of Tom’s life at St. John’s Catholic Church, 350 South Edquist Street, Appleton on November 29, 2017   The visitation at St. John’s will begin at 10:00 am and will be followed by a mass at 11:00 am.   As Tom enjoyed good food, he specifically wanted to share hospitality with those who have meant so much to him over the years at a reception after mass.  Tom’s family is especially grateful to Father Jeremy for his pastoral guidance for Tom.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton, MN, near the Civil War veterans he so admired. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to St. John’s Catholic Church or the Swift County Historical Society. Thomas M. Rice was born on April 8, 1949, to Robert V. Rice and Catherine M. Rice (nee Hickey).   Tom’s two uncles, Fathers Joseph J. Hickey and Thomas D. Hickey, baptized him.  He grew up with many Irish Catholic traditions in the Hickey family homestead in the Bay View community of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In Tom’s teens, his family moved to the Milwaukee suburb of Hales Corners.  He graduated from Immaculate Conception Grade School, St. John the Evangelist Cathedral High School and St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota.  He spent his summers working on the dock at the family trucking company, Hickey Cartage, Inc. With accounting as his field of study, Tom moved to the Twin Cities after college to begin a career as a CPA. Several career changes later, he had the opportunity to move to Appleton, Minnesota for a finance position at the new correctional facility.  When a large private corporation acquired the prison, Tom stayed on as assistant warden until his retirement.  With his sister, Mary Pat Berry, he handled financial, tax and other business matters related to commercial properties that the family owned.  These Milwaukee area properties served the real estate needs of the trucking industry. Appleton was the perfect community for Tom, and he spoke with passion about the fine people and quality of life there.  He appreciated the spiritual home St. John’s provided as well as the many small town amenities.  Tom became involved in church and community activities.  More recently, he was especially proud of being able to contribute to the bandstand project and the summer outdoor musical series.  He greatly appreciated the recent honor of being named Grand Marshal for the Apple Fest. Tom possessed a lifelong passion for history, especially the Civil War.  He engaged in research on Appleton area Civil War soldiers, including securing new grave markers for some soldiers, and more recently, he worked to understand and share the contributions of the Dakota who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  His love of history took him and his brother-in-law, Christopher Berry, to programs at Civil War battlefields and educational seminars offered by Gettysburg College and Penn State University. Many family holidays included Tom and Chris having extended conversations on details of the battles and exchanging Civil War history books.  Tom also took pleasure in telling the stories of local Civil War soldiers to schoolchildren on field trips.  His volunteer work at the Swift County Historical Society was another important way for him to preserve and share stories for future generations. Other interests of Tom included collecting antique and classic cars, automobile memorabilia and antique clocks and watches.  For many years, Tom enjoyed going to auctions and estate sales to improve and add to his diverse collections.  He shared these interests with Larry Palmersheim, his best friend whom he called his brother. Tom is preceded in heaven by his grandparents, parents, Uncles Joe, Tom and John, and nephew Matthew Berry.  He is survived by his sister, Mary Pat Berry (Christopher), his  “brother from another mother”, Larry Palmersheim (Theresa); nephews Ryan Berry (Caitlin) and Nolan Berry; great niece Olivia Catherine, Aunt Gerrie (John) and his cousins. Blessed be the memory of Tom Rice.