Thomas B. Duderstadt, 82, of Bemidji died on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji after an extended illness. The funeral was at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

He was born on June 30, 1921, to John and Estelle Duderstadt in Pittsburgh, Pa. He married Katherine Bailey on August 3, 1956, in Bemidji.

He entered the military at 18 years of age having served first in the Army then in the Air Force. Throughout his military career he was stationed at numerous posts throughout the world including Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, Kwajalein Islands in the Pacific, the Philippines, Michigan, Arizona and Mississippi. Most noted in his career was being at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1971 after having served 30 years in the military. He returned with his family to Bemidji where he resided until he died. Following his military retirement , he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. During this time he was the postmaster at Leonard and Cass Lake. He was a lifetime member of the Bemidji VFW and served as a Post Commander of the local chapter.

He is survived by his wife; sons, Thomas (Kris) Duderstadt of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Gary Bailey of Williams, Minn., Larry (Romona) Bailey of Puposky, Minn.; brother, Joseph Duderstadt of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.

Bemidji Pioneer Dec. 11, 2003