Thomas Arthur Louisiana

23 July 1943-5 April 2022

Our beloved brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and grandfather-in-law, great-grandfather, "Opa," passed away, at home, in Lehi, UT, after a long battle with a debilitating condition, caused by an unrepairable brain/spinal injury, received during a surgery, in 2007.

He spent his last week and a half, in the care of hospice and his wife and children. The timing of his passing was perfect in that he lingered, on the 5th, for the last family member to have time with him. That sacrificing his own comfort was representative of his loving nature.

Tom was born and grew to a young adult in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He graduated from Mechanic Arts High School, entering the US Air Force upon graduation. He pursued a military career for 29 years, with two breaks in service. While in the Air Force, near age 40, Thomas' eyes began to fail. He had been diagnosed with a genetic eye disease, which eventually led to his qualification as "legally blind." The blindness didn't prevent his progress or ability to provide for his family. Following the Air Force, he achieved a Bachelor's degree at Westminster College, in Salt Lake City and continued pursuing a Master's Degree in Educational Counseling. He worked for Alpine School District from 1998 to 2008. Loving being with young people, he was a valued Counselor at Mountain Ridge Junior High, in Highland, Utah.

With his spinal chord injury causing imbalance, hearing loss, nerve damage, coupled with blindness, Tom and Joyce undertook a one-year, LDS Military Affairs Mission to Keesler AFB, in Biloxi, Mississippi, from 2008-2009. Brother and Sister Louisiana served at the Base Chapel as liaisons, with the Chaplains office where Tom was the LDS Group leader. Post Mission, Tom's decline slowly continued to the point of being unable to use his legs. Eventually, he needed skilled nursing and became a resident of the Central Utah Veteran's Home, in Payson, Utah, from May 2021, until returning home to pass.

Thomas was preceded in death by an infant brother, his first son, Michael, and a granddaughter, Hailey Joy Louisiana. He is survived by his older sister, Shirley Louisiana Jennrich Erickson, his children, Aimee (Randy Tubbs) Noah (Jeanine Talley), Benjamin (Jannette Pfoser), James (Nicole Horsley), Alison (Brad Griguhn) and Erin Jill (Steve Burton), as well as 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be at the American Fork West Stake Center 688 W 500 N, with a viewing at 10 am, service at 11 am, followed by a dedication of the grave, at American Fork Cemetery, S W side, located at the intersection of 100 E and 700 N, in American Fork, UT.

Honor Guard led by Brad Griguhn with Taps being played by Adam Townsend.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on www.walkersanderson.com where a live webcast of the service will be available to watch by clicking on live webcast on home page.