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Thomas F. 'Tom' Brereton Colorado Springs, CO QCWA # 35587 Chapter 58 |
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The Rev. Thomas F. Brereton passed away March 31, 2019, his 92nd birthday.
"Tom" was born in Rochester, NY. He and twin sister, Lee, were an "April Fools" surprise for his parents, Frederick and Charlotte, and his elder sister, Muriel. He grew up in Paterson, NJ.
After brief service in the Pacific near the end of World War II, he attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he met his future wife, Alma "Sue" Hammond.
After graduation the couple moved to Evanston, IL, where Tom pursued a Master of Divinity degree at Garrett Theological Seminary. He had parishes in White Cloud, MI and Albany, Cohoes, and Troy, NY.
In 1959, Tom was ordained as an Episcopal priest and joined the US Army Chaplain Corps, where he attained progressive ranks while serving at numerous installations around the US, France, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star for exemplary service in Vietnam.
Tom dedicated himself to hospital chaplaincy and serving military church communities until he left the Army in 1972. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve and eventually retired with the rank of Colonel.
His military career was followed by dedicated and honored work in parish ministry at St John's Episcopal Church in Richfield Springs, NY and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Morganton, NC.
When he retired from the priesthood he and Sue moved to Security, CO, where the family had previously lived and was active in the church family of St. Raphael's Episcopal Church. He and Sue re-engaged with St. Raphaels, where Tom often assisted with services and church events. He was also a fill-in priest for churches around the state for a number of years.
Tom was gregarious, an avid golfer, reader, and an amateur radio "ham". He collected hundreds of QSL cards from contacts around the world and continued his hobby well into his 80s.
He was also compassionate - one of his last acts of kindness was letting a meowwing kitten into his apartment during the most recent blizzard in Colorado Springs. Although he knew he couldn't keep it, he fed it and let it stay until the bad weather passed.
While he was able, he also loved to travel.
After his beloved wife of 57 years passed away in 2008, he later married Gloria Guinn, who survives him. He is also survived by his children, Todd Brereton (Lori Muntz), Susan Miner (Alan), and Lisa Ward (Bill) and two grandsons, Benjamin and Jacob Ward, of whom he was very proud.
Funeral service with military honors will be held Saturday, April 6, at 1pm at St. Raphael's Episcopal Church, 802 Leta Drive, Security, CO.
FAMILY
Gloria Jean Brereton, Wife
Todd (Lori) Brereton, Son
Susan (Alan) Miner, Daughter
Lisa (Bill) Ward, Daughter
Benjamin Ward, Great Grandson
Jacob Ward, Grandson