Thomas "Tom" K. Coborn

About Tom

Thomas King Coborn, age eighty-four, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, died at home on Monday, November 20, 2023, surrounded by many family members.

Tom was born on February 4, 1939, at home in Ponsford, Minnesota, to Hildegard (Heeck) and Chester Coborn, the youngest of three sons. He attended school in Moorhead, Minnesota, and graduated from Boy River High School, Minnesota, in 1957.

Tom met his wife, Heddy “Mickey” Peterson, in June of 1960 when she was applying for a summer job at Coborn’s Bar Harbor Resort in Federal Dam, Minnesota, the resort he owned and operated with his family. He asked her out on a date within forty-eight hours. They wed in Remer, Minnesota, on September 9, 1961. They were married for sixty-two years and had six children.

Tom and Mickey left Federal Dam in 1969 and settled in their current home near Itasca State Park. Tom was an entrepreneur. He raised cattle and ran a riding stable, owned a tour boat business for thirty-six years and was a Coast Guard Captain on Lake Itasca, developed land, and bought and sold heavy equipment. In the early part of his life, he was an avid reader and deer hunter. He painted, did woodworking, was an excellent dancer, enjoyed travel, and snowmobiled into his eighties. More than anything, he liked to make people laugh. He loved his dog Daisy.

Tom’s survivors include his wife Mickey Coborn; his daughters Kerrie Coborn (David Welle), Kelly Coborn, Kathy Coborn Larson (Craig Larson), and Kim Coborn; his sons Thomas Coborn (Lisa) and Christopher Coborn (Jeanie); his thirteen grandchildren Kelsey Sharp (Ryan), Kyte Decker (Nate), Taylor Sells, Vincent Coborn, Bree Lund, Tucker Coborn, Samuel Coborn, Kenzi Coborn, Klaree Coborn Larson, Cole Coborn, Kaisa Coborn, Kendra Coborn, and Kree Coborn Ellenson; and ten great-grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his brother Patrick Coborn, his father Chester “Pops” Coborn, his mother Hildegard “Hitty” Coborn, his mother-in-law Beulah “Grandma Pete” Peterson, family friend Joseph Mobry, his brother Chet “Junior” Coborn, and his granddaughter Kiley Coborn Larson.

memorial service

Memorial Services for Tom

November 29, 2023

Calvary Lutheran Church 112 Park Ave, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday. A reception will follow the services.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home