Rev. Thomas H. Hoversten

Rev. Thomas H. Hoversten, age 88, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Oshkosh, WI. He was born on December 21, 1933, in Williams, IA to the late Chester and Berniece (Reingardt) Hoversten.

Tom, as he liked to be called, left home after graduating from Williams High School to attend Lutheran Bible Institute, then on to Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated with a Degree in History. He then attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, where he graduated with a Master's of Divinity degree, and was soon ordained a Lutheran Minister. On June 25, 1960, he married Loretta Pletan, and just over a year later their son Tim was born.  His first call was to a two-point country parish of East and West Zion Lutheran Churches near Starbuck, MN.  His next call was to Our Savior's Lutheran in Clarissa, MN, followed by St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. At this time, their daughter Gloria came along, and their family was complete. Almost immediately came another country two-point parish call to Trinity Lutheran Church of Norden, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, both near Mondovi, WI. Once there, Tom was able to pursue one of his passions, snowmobiling, and was a founding member of the Norden Ridge-Runners Snowmobile club. His pastoral career was rounded out by a call to Deerfield, WI, and Deerfield Lutheran Church, from which he retired from pastoral work. In the succeeding years, he worked as a Lutheran Brotherhood District Representative, and finally in his later years as a real estate investor and landlord. 

He loved living on Lake Wisconsin after leaving Deerfield, and especially his last years in Oshkosh, where he and Loretta made many friends and were constantly on the move with church activities, and political events. His other interests were travel and photography, having amassed over 5,000 slides over the years, fishing at the Cabin, wood working, ice- and roller-skating and sailing his Sunfish 14-foot sailboat. Gardening was also a passion - he loved getting on his knees and digging around in the soil, tending the plants as they grew, and of course - the harvest.  

The last two years of his life he spent writing a book of his life and family which he hoped to publish before his death, and while it appears to be finished, may take a bit to finally be put in print.

Thomas is survived by his son, Timothy (Elizabeth) Hoversten; daughter, Gloria Brandt; son-in-law, Dan Brandt; grandchildren: Ryan (Tashina) Weber, Kyle (Barb) Weber, Emma (Mercedes) Brandt, Carol Brandt, Ellen Brandt, Lucy Brandt; great grandchildren: Caden, Baylor and Briseis Weber, Michael and Christen Erickson, Aayla and Isabella Weber; and siblings: Chester (Clenora) Hoversten, Duane (LaVonne) Hoversten, Bernice Lancaster, Paul (Rita) Hoversten. He was further preceded in death by his wife, Loretta Hoversten on February 20, 2021.

Funeral services for Thomas will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday April 19, 2022, at Good Shephard Lutheran Church, 2450 W 9th Avenue, Oshkosh, WI with Rev. Greg Koepsell officiating. Visitation will take place on Tuesday at the church from 4:00 pm until the time of service.

Services in Iowa will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 22, 2022, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 200 Beech St, Williams, IA with Rev. Jeff Tjelta officiating. Visitation will take place at the church on Friday from 12:30 pm until time of service. Burial will immediately follow the service at Williams Public Cemetery.