Thomas 'Tom' J. Woitalla

Thomas "Tom" Woitalla, age 44, of Harding, MN passed away on January 22, 2007 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding, with Fr. Gerald Dalseth & Fr. Ken Brenny concelebrating. Visitation will be Friday, January 26, 2007 from 4:00 a" 8:00 p.m. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz. Holy Cross Rosary Sodality and Holy Name Society Rosary at 4:00 p.m., Parish Prayers at 7:00 p.m. followed by Knights of Columbus Office Of The Dead at 8:00 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be at parish cemetery. Thomas "Tom" Joseph Woitalla was born on December 29, 1962 in Ft. Riley, Kansas the son of Joseph Anthony & Lois Jean (Janson) Woitalla. As a child, he moved with his parents to Harding, Minnesota where he grew up. He attended Harding Elementary School, Crosier Seminary for a year and a half and graduated from Pierz Healy High School, Class of 1981. He then attended Brainerd Area Vocational Technical Institute for one year. He was united in marriage to Bernice Marie Rudolph on October 16, 1982 at St. Mathias Catholic Church in St. Mathias. The couple made their home northeast of Harding. Tom has worked all his life in the family business, Woitalla Service, Inc., of which he was part owner. Tom loved family vacations, hunting, fishing, golfing, spending time with his family and friends and being active in his church and children's school. He is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding where he was currently serving on the parish council and sang in the church choir. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served as Grand Knight, Harding Sportsman's Club, a former member of the Holy Trinity School Board and was currently serving on the Father Pierz School of Religion Board. Tom is survived by his wife, Bernice of Harding; children, Danielle (fiancAC., Ryan Skwira) Woitalla, Luke Woitalla, Peter Woitalla, and Matthew Woitalla all of Harding; parents, Joe & Lois Woitalla of Harding; siblings, Greg (Lynn) Woitalla of Harding, Sue (Kim) Lucken of Harding, Ann (Scott) Przybilla of Tracy, MN, and Robert (Maren) Woitalla of Oshkosh, WI; father-in-law, Bernard Rudolph of Ft. Ripley, MN and brother-in-law, Charles (Christine) Rudolph of Ft. Ripley; 14 nieces and nephews and a host of relatives friends and business associates. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter & Mary Woitalla and Ed & Dorothy and Mary Janson; mother-in-law, MaryAnn Rudolph and brother-in-law, Ambrose Rudolph. Casket bearers will be Corey Rudolph, Justin Rudolph, Todd Banick, Danny Hennen, Russell (Tiger) Rudolph, John Weiss, Jim Krych, and Jeff Dembouski.