Thomas E. Archer

November 2, 1955 – March 8, 2020

It is with profound sadness and deep loss that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend on Sunday, March 08, 2020. Tom was preceded in death by his life partner John Burke. He was born to Robert Archer who survives in Celina, Ohio and the late Anna Tangeman. Tom is survived by his sisters Sharon Archer of Mendon, Ohio, Diane (Cheryl) Archer-Welker of Celina, Ohio, Linda (Doug) Krieger of Carbon, Alberta Canada, and his brothers John (Mary Lou) Archer of Rockford, Ohio, and Jerry (Shelly) Archer of Celina, Ohio. He was greeted in heaven by his 3 day old baby sister Mary Helen Archer . Tom is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great great nephews, great great nieces, and extended family as well as many friends and neighbors who were like family to him. Tom graduated from Celina Senior High School in Celina, Ohio, received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and his Master’s Degree in Reading Specialist from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri. Tom received one of the highest and respected honors of Eagle Scout from Troop 69 in Celina, Ohio. He was the Director of Youth Ministry, Northern Area Catholic Youth Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati until he moved to St. Louis, Missouri. While at the Northern Area office he created and facilitated youth retreats, monthly meetings for teens to discuss their faith, hosted a yearly faith celebration called Fall Harvest, along with sharing his faith with hundreds of youth throughout all of the northern counties in Ohio. Tom was the principal at St. Catherine’s Laboure School in Cahokia, Illinois and at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. He served as president of Second Wind St. Louis and National Lung Transplant Associations. He was passionate about his work with Second Wind due to being a double lung transplant recipient himself because of the generosity of his donor family. Tom will be remembered and cherished for his gentle and generous nature, benevolence, honesty and sense of community. He greatly appreciated life and the world around him and he was a lifelong learner and a patient teacher. He always made a lasting impression and touched the lives of every person he met.

Due to the current situation with the coronavirus, Tom's Celebration of Life has been postponed. On behalf of the family; "We feel it appropriate to protect everyone, especially those who are vulnerable such as transplant patients, and give them the opportunity to attend at a later date since this was a huge part of Tom's life."

A funeral mass will also be scheduled at a later date in Celina, Ohio. Memorial Contributions in Tom’s honor can be made to the Second Wind Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 771242, St. Louis, MO 63177.