Thomas F. Falk

March 18, 1948 – December 14, 2025

Thomas F. Falk, age 77, passed away early Sunday morning, December 14, 2025 at his home in Gold Canyon, AZ, with his wife, Marilyn by his side. He was surrounded by love and the legacy of a life well lived.

Born on March 18, 1948, Tom was the son of Albert and Hazel (Asleson) Falk. From his earliest days, he was shaped by strong roots, steady values, and a
quiet determination that guided him throughout his life. Tom had an older sister, Donna, now deceased and younger sister, Carol who resides in Spooner, WI.

Tom attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in New Trier until 1960, when his family moved to Faribault, Minnesota. He graduated from Bethlehem Academy in 1966, marking the
beginning of a life defined by hard work, responsibility, and service.

In July of 1967, Tom enlisted in the United States Army, answering his country’s call with courage and humility. He served honorably, including a 12-month tour in Vietnam, an
experience that left a lasting imprint on his character and fostered a lifelong respect for his fellow veterans.

Tom was the proud father of two daughters, Stacie and Kari, from his first marriage. Though the marriage later ended, Tom’s love for his family endured through joy, loss, and
distance. He carried that love quietly and faithfully, always holding space for reconciliation and peace. The accidental loss of his daughter Kari was a heartbreak he bore with great sorrow and strength. Tom was the proud grandfather of two grandchildren, Hayden Schutt and Hannah Schutt, who held a special place in his heart.

On May 3, 1986, Tom married Marilyn Larson, his partner in life, work, and dreams. Together, they built a life rooted in perseverance, faith, and a shared love of the land. They made their
home on a hobby farm west of Dundas, Minnesota, where for 20 years they raised, showed, and cherished draft horses—a calling that brought Tom both purpose and peace.
Horses were never simply a hobby for Tom; they were part of his soul. As a teenager, he purchased his first stud colt, Prince, beginning a lifelong bond that shaped the man he would become.  Tom spent countless hours patiently training Prince to ride and drive, even teaching him to “count” and reared like” Trigger”, Roy Rogers horse. Their connection was built on trust, patience, and mutual respect—qualities Tom carried into every part of his life. Tom’s heart was always open to others who shared—or wished to discover—a love for horses. He cherished the camaraderie of the draft horse community, proudly driving hitches in the Cannon Falls Fourth of July parade for nearly 20 years, a tradition that brought him immense joy. He and Marilyn enjoyed sharing their horses with many private and community events, eventually participating in competition events at local, state, and out of state levels. They traveled across several states attending sales, looking for that “just right horse” to complete their hitch, valuing the friendships formed along the way.

Tom took quiet pride in his work, both with horses and in his profession. He was a longtime member of the Operating Engineers Local 49, working primarily as a backhoe operator and
lowboy driver, as well as foreman. From 1993 to 2001, he stepped away from construction to pursue trucking, purchasing a semi and leasing with Taylor Truck Line, Dale Nelson Trucking, where he hauled Anheuser Busch beer to College City Beverage in Northfield, MN and later GT Trucking, before selling his Peterbilt and returning to construction. He retired in 2007, allowing him to devote himself fully to the draft horse world. In 2010, Tom and Marilyn participated in the World Percheron Congress in Des Moines,
Iowa, a meaningful and fitting farewell to the show ring and the horses that had defined so much of their shared life. From then on, Tom enjoyed buying, training and selling these magnificent animals.

In July of 2015, health reasons brought Tom and Marilyn to Gold Canyon, Arizona, where they made their home. Surrounded by desert skies and mountain views, their home became a welcoming haven—especially during Midwest winters—as friends arrived not just as guests, but as family. Tom found deep contentment in these quieter years. Tom will be remembered as a devoted husband, a patriotic veteran, a horseman, a skilled tradesman, and a man of integrity who lived without pretense. His legacy is found in the roads he helped build, the horses he guided, the friendships he honored, and the love he carried quietly throughout his life.

Tom was welcomed in God’s home by his beloved daughter, Kari, father, Albert Falk, mother Hazel Hintz and step father Bill Hintz, sister Donna Otto, mother and father in law Kathryn and Russell Miller, and brothers in law Jim Otto and Dennis Larson.

A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at Gold Stallion, Gold Canyon on Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 2-4. Final burial at the St. Pius VI Catholic Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Celebration of
Tom’s Life and fellowship will be held at the Grand O2 l in Cannon Falls, MN June 28, 2026, immediately following the gravesite service.