The Rev. Thomas W. Bye, 71, of Hart, went to his heavenly home on Friday, December 3, 2021.  He was born May 11, 1950 in Elmhurst, Illinois and raised in Wheaton.

Tom graduated high school from St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served four years, stationed in Vietnam and Germany as a medic. Tom received the Purple Heart Medal. He returned home to Peoria, Illinois where he was a surgical technician.  He married Jeralyn "Jeri" (Finney) on May 25, 1975.

He attended Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was ordained as a minister of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.  Tom's first call was to a dual parish in Hammond and Potsdam, Minnesota.  Next, he served for twenty-five years in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  He was also a police chaplain in Oshkosh and served on the Southern Wisconsin District Board of the Missouri Synod. He served most recently at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Shelby for the past ten years.  He served in the parish ministry for a total of forty-years.  He was a life member of the American Legion in Oshkosh.

Rev. Bye is survived by his wife, Jeri; his daughters, Erika (James) Sheridan and Maryann (Ned) Storer; grandchildren, Sophia Storer, Eddie Storer, and Samantha Sheridan; his extended family - the Atwaters; and his beloved dogs, Winston and Monique.  He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nanette, and his sister, Laurel Kamen.

A memorial service will be held Monday, December 6th, 11 am at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 7400 W. Johnson Road with Rev. Dennis Lassanske, officiating. Memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project are appreciated. Mail donations to P.O. 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 or donate on-line at www.woundedwarriorproject.org .