Thomas Henry Keute, age 89, passed away peacefully in the company of his wife Joanne and family on Friday September 24th, 2026.

Tom was born on February 25, 1937, in New Ulm Minnesota to Willard (Bill) and Marie (Eichten) Keute. He graduated from Red Wing MN High School in 1956. He married Joanne Harris, also from Red Wing in 1958. He joined the US Marines in 1957 and proudly served his country for 3 years with time spent in Okinawa, Japan where he enjoyed his study of Karate. After leaving the military they moved to Rochester MN where Tom started his 35-year career at IBM. They moved their family to Pine Island MN to raise their four kids in small town setting.

Outside of work he truly loved life to its fullest and sports were his thing. He was all around talented in baseball, football, basketball, softball, tennis and pickleball. He played many of these sports well into his 70’s but when he wasn’t playing, he was a fan of all of his kids and grandkids. Other activities he enjoyed were; camping, boating, swimming, kayaking and in the winter snowmobiling with the Pine Island Hill and Gully Snowmobile Club. He stayed active by biking all summer long up until 85 years old. Reading was another passion and he loved himself a campfire almost daily.

Once the kids had graduated, they moved to Lake City to enjoy Lake Pepin in the summer and wintered in Arizona for over 20 years. Then it was back to Pine Island in an apartment where he was still a fan of the Panthers.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents and brother Bob Keute.

Tom is survived by his wife Joanne who passed away just 24 hours later, and children, Brian (Sharon) Keute, Todd (Lori) Keute, Sherry (Bill) Lindsey and Lisa (Bob) Kelley. Grandkids Sarah, Bill, Caitlin (Tony), Ally (Erin), Maddie, Mishawna (Caleb), Laramie (Kayla) Kiara (Craig) Brandon (Sara), Amber (Jon). Great grandchildren Aubrey, Bodie, Molly, Thomas, Maclan, Edith and Charlotte.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday October 17th,11 am to 2 pm at the Pine Island American Legion, 108 1st Ave. SE Pine Island MN 55963.

Tom loved the Van Horn Public Library. Memorials given to the library would mean more to us than flowers. Van Horn Public Library 115 3rd Street SE Pine Island MN 55963