Thomas R. Holmes, age 57, longtime resident of Virginia and formerly of Duluth and Minneapolis died Saturday, July 19, 2014, at Essentia Health – St. Mary's in Duluth. He was born July 11, 1957, in Virginia the son of Allen E. and Marian B. (Johnson) Holmes. He graduated from Virginia High School where he played hockey and tennis – competing in the State Tennis Tournament. He went on to attend UMD.
Thomas worked as a surgical technician with Fairview Hospital in Hibbing. He was a member of Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Thomas was a caring and gentle person who always saw good in everyone and greeted you with a smile and a hug. He was known as a Grill Master, Bonfire King, and the Ultimate Popcorn Chef. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and cheering on the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.
Thomas is survived by his children: Jamie Holmes of Rock Hill, SC, Heather Holmes of Chisholm, and Rick (Sonia) Perez of Anchorage, AK; his mother: Marian Holmes of Virginia; and his sisters: Candy Furo of Duluth, MN, Connie Christenson of Virginia, MN, and Cassy Holmes of Duluth, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Teresa Niesen and her children Krystle Orcutt, Jody Bauman and Nicole Knaffla. He was known as "Papa" to Alexis, Hunter, Madison, Larry and Jace.
He was preceded in death by his father: Allen E. Holmes; and his brother: Allen R. Holmes.
Visitation will be from 6-8pm Thursday, July 24, 2014, in the Bauman-Cron Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia. The Funeral Service will be Friday, July 25, 2014, at 1:00 pm in the Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. The Reverends Nathan Sager and Tab Baumgartner will officiate. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia.
Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Virginia. To express condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Visitation 6pm - 8pm ,Thursday, July 24, 2014
Bauman-Cron Funeral Home Chapel
516 South First Street Virginia, MN 55792
Funeral Service 1:00 pm ,Friday, July 25, 2014
Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church
901 3rd Street South Virginia, MN 55792
Interment Friday, July 25, 2014
Greenwood Cemetery
1126 North 9th Street Virginia, MN 55792