Thomas "Tom" H. Koudela

Thomas “Tom” H. Koudela, age 72, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at home surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, 2024, First Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Rev. PJ Malin officiating. Music is provided by pianist, Randy Morken and vocalists, Jackson Burns and Apryl Putnam. Full military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard, Lowry American Legion Post #253, American Legion Post #87, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409. Private family interment will take place at Kinkead Cemetery Columbarium, Alexandria.

A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Monday, August 19, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Thomas Henry was born on December 3, 1951, to Robert and Christine (Prchal) Koudela in Alexandria. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Lowry. He attended country school district 452 through the 8th grade and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1969. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served his country in Vietnam from 1970-1971. After his honorable discharge, he returned home and attended Alexandria Technical College, where he completed a two-year associate degree in Tool & Dye. Sometime shortly after returning from the service, Tom met Ann Henning and they were united in marriage on June 26, 1976, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria. They were blessed with three children, two daughters (Nicole and Lori) and one son (Justin), later a son-in-law (Brad) and four grandchildren (Riley, Kiera, Hudson and Orion). Tom was very proud of his family. Tom worked at 3M, starting in an entry-level position and working his way up. Over his 34-year career he became a supervisor, and proudly retired at age 57. Tom was considered by his family to be a jack of all trades. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or overhaul. He was known as a dedicated hard worker who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. When he wasn’t wrenching, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, riding motorcycles, and socializing with friends and family. Above all, he loved his family very much and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Carroll and Lois Henning; sisters-in-law, Linda Henning and Karen Mogen.

Tom is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ann; children, Nicole (Brad) Nyberg of Carlos, Lori Christensen of Alexandria; and Justin Koudela of Moorhead; grandchildren, Riley and Hudson Nyberg and Kiera and Orion Christensen; brother, Frank (Rhoda) Koudela of Detroit Lakes; brothers-in-law, Timothy Henning and Norbert Mogen; nieces, Stephanie Leininger and Jacki Spicer; several cousins and many friends. 

Pallbearers are Tom Hills, Loren “Bizz” Tvrdik, Adam Tvrdik, Kenneth Tvrdik, Chris Mogen, and Michael Nyberg.