Services for Tom Sedler

Tom Sedler, age 73, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday, January 5th, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 14th, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Jane Ekholm officiating. Due to covid concerns, the service at the church will be for family only. However, the service will be live-streamed on both the Carlin Funeral Home Facebook page and the Carlin Funeral Home website. If you are unable watch when it is live-streamed, you will be able to access the recording of it on both locations at any time following the service.

In lieu of a floral arrangement, please consider a memorial to Fosston Baseball, Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Loaves and Fishes Food Shelf. Contacts and addresses are on the Carlin website at the bottom of Tom’s obituary. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.  

Thomas Craig Sedler was born on September 3, 1948, in Breckenridge, Minnesota to parents Vernon and Phyllis (Bladow) Sedler. He lived with his family in Hankinson, North Dakota through the tenth grade before moving to Copperstown, North Dakota where he graduated from high school in 1966. He then attended Mayville State College where he played on the baseball team and received his bachelor’s degree in math education. After college, he got his first teaching job in Starkweather, North Dakota. He taught there for only a year before he was drafted into the Army.

Tom was united in marriage to Marcy Sigdahl on July 24, 1971, at American Lutheran Church in Tolna, North Dakota. They began their life living abroad in Germany where Tom was stationed. They spent two years in Germany before being transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he took on the position of prison recreation director. He received his honorable discharge in 1975 and returned to Minnesota.

In the fall of 1975, the Sedler family moved to Oklee, Minnesota. It was in Oklee that Tom returned to the classroom teaching math and coaching multiple sports. Then, in 1984, their growing family moved to Climax, Minnesota where Tom took over as Principal at the high school. During this time, Tom also attended Moorhead State University and North Dakota State University, attaining a master’s degree and specialist in education degree.  In 1997, he took the job as Principal at Fosston High School, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. After retirement, when they weren’t in Fosston, you could find Tom and Marcy at their cabin on Lake Andrusia near Bemidji.  

Tom loved sports. All sports. He was an umpire and referee at numerous events through the years. Tom was a familiar face and voice for many years at numerous Fosston High School sporting events. He was always there to help wherever he was needed.

Tom was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston where he served on several church boards; he also enjoyed time on the DAC board; was a foster parent and donated time giving respite care to those in need. In addition, he helped with Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 20 years, from its beginnings in Fosston. 

Tom loved yard work, keeping up with not only his own lawn, but those of his neighbors, and snowblowing and shoveling in the winter. He was a guy that was always willing to lend a helping hand.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcy, of Fosston; four sons, Ryan of Worthington, MN, Brett of Hallock, MN, Brady (Gwen) of Surprise, AZ, and Derek (Ashley) of Tempe, AZ; one brother, Bruce (Julie) Sedler of Binford, ND, and Jeff Sedler of Cooperstown, ND; and nine nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Barbara Bommersbach.

The Sedler family is grateful for the wonderful care from the staff of Essentia in Fosston and all of the medical personnel that assisted with Tom’s care.