Thomas Albert Adams

Thomas Albert Adams

Thomas "Tom" Adams, age 88, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Missouri Valley, Iowa on August 6, 1937, Tom spent his early years on farms in both Iowa and Minnesota. Following graduation from high school in Woodbine, Iowa, Tom proudly answered the call to serve his country in the United States Army. His six years of military service included assignments in Germany (1956-1959) and South Korea (1959-1962). In recent years he was an active member of the local Korean War Veterans group.

Upon returning to civilian life, Tom utilized his GI benefits to build a successful career in the emerging tech industry. He balanced working for Riteway TV while completing an intensive 18-month program at the Radio Electronics Institute (REI) in Omaha. In 1964, his hard work paid off when he was hired by IBM in Omaha. After attending Customer Engineering School, he specialized in maintaining advanced IBM equipment, including keypunches and tabulating machines. In 1972, he accepted a programming position at IBM that brought his family to Rochester, Minnesota. Tom dedicated 34 remarkable years to IBM before his well-earned retirement in 1998.

But life is more than just work. Back in 1967, Tom met the love of his life, Mary Patricia "Mary Pat" Devaney. The couple was married in Omaha, Nebraska, on April 20, 1968. Together, they built a beautiful life of devotion and shared adventures spanning over 58 years.

Retirement did not slow Tom down; instead, it opened the door for him to give back heavily to his community. For over two decades (1998-2020), he was a mainstay at the Senior Net Computer Lab, where he maintained systems, taught tech classes, and mentored fellow volunteers. From 2013 to 2017, he also shared his knowledge with inmates at the Adult Detention Center, teaching computer literacy classes to help them build skills for the future.

Tom's zest for life was evident in his many hobbies. He was an avid traveler whose adventures took him across Europe and China, as well as various cruises. Closer to home, Tom and Mary Pat enjoyed being part of bowling leagues in the 1960's and 1970s, playing tennis, and later, pickleball. He was also a sharp card player who regularly participated in local duplicate bridge and 500 card groups.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Pat; his son, Jim (Lori Miller) of Rochester and daughter, Judy (Laurent) Thérond of Superior, CO; grandkids, Margaux and Fox Thérond; and

sisters, Meribeth Adams, Shirley Dungan, and Rosemary Flynn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Glen (C.G.) and Ruth (Weed) Adams and his brother, Roger Adams.

Celebration of life will be held at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 15, 2026 with visitation one hour prior to the service at Evangel United Methodist Church. Reception to follow.
A burial and a committal service will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston.
Online condolences are welcome and may be shared at maxonfamilycremation.com.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made in Tom's memory to 125 Live www.125livemn.org/donate.