A celebration of life for Thomas E. Dahl, 77, of Albert Lea will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Jack Dahl will officiate. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Tom passed away Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Thomas Edward Dahl was born Nov. 10, 1940, in Albert Lea, the son of Kenneth and Adeline (Peterson) Dahl. He graduated from Albert Lea High School, where he enjoyed playing trumpet in the high school swing band. Following graduation, Tom went to work for the railroad for two years before becoming employed by Streater in Albert Lea. Tom continued his education in Austin in night school to become a tool and die maker. He then joined that department at Streater until his retirement in 2009.

On Aug. 9, 1986, Tom was united in marriage to Lynda Wilcox at Christ Episcopal Church in Albert Lea.

Tom was a member of Ram Rods Car Club in his early years and had a life-long interest in old cars. He was a member of the Eagles club for many years. Tom took many trips to Virginia, Minnesota, to visit family and on to Lake Kabetogama to relax and fish. Later, he took several trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where he loved seeing the sights and visiting with family there.

Tom was a quiet, humble man who could spend hours tending his vegetable gardens at community gardens and many flowers at home. He enjoyed attracting birds, especially chickadees, to his feeders and watching them year-round out the window. Tom also loved to cook, play games with family and stopping to catch the sunset in the evening, wherever he was. He was a kind and gentle man who will be deeply missed by those who loved him.

Tom is survived by his wife, Lynda; two sons from a previous marriage, Blane (Chris) Dahl of Vienna, Virginia, and Brent Dahl of Albert Lea; grandchildren Ethan and Anna Dahl of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Frank Wilcox (Deb Harpel), of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law Lynel (Gary) Deyo of Austin and Lynae (Mike) Anderson of Rapid City, South Dakota; nieces and nephews Lissa McKnight, Allan Carey, Breonna (Eric) Laden, Mic (Angela) Wilcox, Tyler Wilcox, Amy Rye and Ben Anderson; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Adeline.