Thomas Dougherty

Thomas Angelo Dougherty, age 97, died October 26, 2014 in his home surrounded by his family. Tom was born December 2, 1916 in Hibbing MN to TR and Josephine (Bretto) Dougherty. He was a graduate of Hibbing High School and the U of M Mortuary School.

Tom enlisted in the Navy in 1941, was trained as an aviator and was a plank owner on the battleship USS Massachusetts where he flew an observation aircraft--the Kingfisher. He was shot down during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa at Casablanca after calling in the code "Batter Up" to his ship to commence firing. These were the first shots fired by the US in the European Theater in WW II. Presumed dead, he had his first funeral aboard the ship. Captured, he was held briefly as a POW until freed by General Patton's army.

He married the love of his life Jean Shea in 1942 on his shore leave. They were posted to various naval bases where he finished his naval career as a flight instructor and honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander.

Tom and Jean settled in Duluth when he purchased the Grady and Hughes funeral home in 1948 that he operated as the Dougherty Funeral Home until 1986, when his son Dan took over the business. Even in retirement, he remained active in the funeral business until his early 90's. Tom helped over 10,000 families bury their loved ones during his career.

In 1959, Tom and Jean moved to the JMJ Farms in Hermantown where they raised their family until moving back to the apartment above the funeral home. Tom and Jean enjoyed traveling, boating and teaching natural family planning classes.

Tom continued their tradition of prioritizing family and friends. He delighted in and was proud of his 92 children, grand and great grand children and spouses and was happiest during Sunday night dinners with his family. He enjoyed many cigars (for medicinal purposes only) on the veranda over looking Lake Superior, which reminded him of the pier at Casablanca. He also loved spending time with his friends -- lunch, fishing, or hunting where he held "court" regaling all with stories or jokes that all were never tired of hearing.

Tom was active in the Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree Knight, Serra Club, and St. Stanislaus Kostka Society, the Italian American Club, to name a few and supported many other organizations in Dulutha�"the town he loved.

He is preceded in death by his wife Jean (Shea); parents, TR and Josephine Dougherty; siblings, Joe, Mary, Barbara and Rose Ann; infant son Tim; grandsons Thomas Bretto, Nicholas and Gordy Dougherty; son in laws Bill Meierhoff, Bruce Howe and John Hoff

He is survived by: Tom and Mary Dougherty and family, Sara Jean, Mina and Pat Bradley (Shea and John), Katherine Dougherty (Emma) and Thomas Roy; Toni Meierhoff and family, Jessie and Darrel Wick (Peter, Mattea and Julia), Joe and Rena, (Lily and Jace), Thomas, Megan and Chris Orman (Sofia and Georgia), Dan and Missy (Janessa and Josie); Mona and Ken Knutson and family, Casey and Cord Carbert (Avery and Welles), Ben and Sara (Maija, Noble, Rowan), Nellie and Tim Suess (Gus and Ruby), Andrew and Andrea, (Gray, Mylo, Mae), and Peter Clure; Jeanne Dougherty and family, Chris Howe (Henry), Lizzy and Tim; Joni and John Knowles and son George; Kate Dougherty and son Patrick. Mary Dougherty and children, Rachel, Tim and Jack Gilbert; Annie and Steve Nord and children, Max, Sam, Josephine and Joanmarie; Dan Dougherty and family, Daniel and Ayla, (Trey and Dalton), Alex, Jean, Isabelle, Michael, and Mariah; Angela Dougherty and Tom Bridge and sons, John and Tom; Sara Dougherty and Alan Klapmeier and family: John and Christi, Joe, Michael, Thomas, Kate and Eric, Sarah. Bridgit and Brian Janzig and children: Emily, Nick, and Nate. Brothers, John and Mary Kay and Pat and Victoria and his baby sister, Katheryn "Kato" Hermann.

A special thanks to Dr. Susan Kamper who took such good care of Tom, along with the staff at the VA Medical Clinic. Also, to Bridgit (aka the Chairman), Kate and Toni McEvoy for their daily care of Dad and Angel for her Monday night dinners.

The Visitation will be Thursday, October 30th from 4-7pm with Wake prayers at 6:30pm at the Dougherty Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, at 11am at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 East 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812. Burial with military honors accorded by the Duluth Honor Guard will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials preferred to; the Kids Closet of Duluth, 2308 West 3rd Street, Duluth, MN 55806 or Dougherty Diabetic Research Fund #11509, University of Minnesota foundation, 200 Oak Street S.E., Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 East 2nd Street, Duluth, MN, Phone. 218.727.3555