Thomas Tom Richard Colby

On April 13, 1950, Thomas Richard Colby was born to Clarence (Dick) Colby and Dolores (Hanks) Colby in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in Coon Rapids, MN with his siblings Christopher (Sue) Colby, Kathleen (Glenn) Switz, and Nancy (Tom) Deyo. Tom graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1968 and attended college at Normandale College majoring in English. He married Diann Rosburg on February 2, 1973. On February 14, 1977, Celeste Marie Colby was born! He met Eileen (Donnelly) Julik and her daughter Kathryn Diane in 1982. They met when he played with his band, Monarch at the Coon Rapids Legion. On August 25, 1984 They merged their families through marriage! On August 19, 1986 Thomas Robert Colby made his appearance! In 1988, they gained temporary custody of John Donnelly adding 1 more member of their family! This made their family, as they liked to say, a yours, mine, ours and somebody elses family! Over the past 30+ years, their family has grown and grown! Celeste became a step mother of Kalli and Alexandria Laurin and Aaron Moore. She has blessed them with 2 beautiful daughters, Paige Mackenzie and Colby Solara. Kathryn, added 2 sweet girls, Mary Brynna and Ava Marie and is married to Robert Cole. Tommy married Dana Albee and further blessed them with a precious little girl, Lily Jo and doppelganger Thomas Robert Jr! The newest addition is Kalli and her husband Jeremiah's little fighter, Neriah Lynne, making the 1st GREAT grandbaby. To many of the kids' friends they were "adopted" parents! And have added more and more adopted kids through the years. This includes Missy McGuirk and her 2 little girls, Kadance and Karah. They always said family does not have to be blood related and opened their hearts to all! Tom fought a long battle with Cancer beginning in March of 2012. He lost that battle at 5:38 am on October 16, 2015. Tom is preceded in death by parents Clarence and Dolores Colby, Godson Andrew Deyo and good friend Sandy Moses. A Florida service will be held Wednesday, October 21 at 5:30 pm at Deltona Memorial Gardens in Deltona, FL. A Celebration of life will be held following the service. A Minnesota service will be held Sunday, October 25, 1pm to 4pm, at Gearhart Funeral Home in Coon Rapids, MN.