Thomas Shelby Gearhart

Thomas S. Gearhart, 80 year old resident of Coon Rapids, passed away at his home on January 15, 2022. He was born to Alyce and Donald R. Gearhart in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 10, 1942. Tom grew up in Battle Lake, Fergus Falls and Northeast Minneapolis, graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1960, and pursued a degree in mortuary science at the University of Minnesota. In 1967, he moved to Anoka where he became director of the Gearhart Funeral Home and involved himself in Anoka service clubs, local politics, Zion Lutheran Church and raising his two daughters, Rebecca and Ann.

In 1975, Tom established the Gearhart Funeral Chapel in Coon Rapids and operated both the Anoka and Coon Rapids chapels until 1991. He was very proud of his profession and took pride in serving families with dignity and respect.

In 1989, Tom married Jeanne and gained a step-daughter, Paula and a step-son, Mike. In 1991, he sold the funeral homes and he and Jeanne moved up to their lake home in Grand Rapids where they lived for 13 wonderful years. They purchased a fifth wheel RV and travelled throughout the country ending up in the Palm Creek RV and Golf Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona where they spent twenty wonderful winters and made life long friends from all over the United States and Canada.

Some of Tom's passions throughout his life were golf, racket ball, fishing, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, singing in the Palm Creek Choir and the all consuming sport of Pickleball. Tom also enjoyed spending time with his poker, hunting and fishing friends from Anoka.

Tom is survived by his wife, Jeanne; daughter, Rebecca (Munib) Mafazy of Bloomington, Illinois; daughter, Ann Gearhart of Apple Valley; step-daughter, Paula (Todd) Bethel of South Minneapolis; and daughter-in-law, Deana Montgomery of Moorhead; grandchildren, Kari (Ryan), Jimmy (Hannah), Elizabeth, Andrew, Anna, Thomas, Emily, Hannah, Midhat (Nazma), Miaad (Adil); nine great grandchildren; a brother; a sister; four brothers-in-law; and three sisters-in-law.

A memorial service for Tom will be held at 11:00am on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church, 1901 S. 4th Ave, Anoka, Minnesota with gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

The link for livestreaming is:
https://youtu.be/dwatP0X0HkM

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Lamu Center of Preventive Health.
www.lamuhealth.org.

Caring for Tom and his family
Halvorson Taylor Funeral Home
Brainerd 218 829 3581