Thomas Trant

Thomas Francis Trant, born August 25, 1950, expired at home of natural causes on December 1, 2021. Tom was born in Chicago, IL and raised by his incredible mother Dorothy (Lubben) Trant along with his three siblings, MaryAnn Scanlon Rout, Walter Trant and Paul Trant (now deceased). He attended Catholic primary and secondary schools which put him on the path to lifelong learning. After graduating from Missouri Valley College in non-profit leadership he began his career with the Boy Scouts of America as a district executive in the St. Paul office at Indianhead Council and came to know and love western Wisconsin. He spent many summers managing Tomahawk Scout Reservation on Long Lake and influenced a generation of young men with his positive attitude and generous spirit. Being the Irishman, he did not succumb to marriage until Louise Dobbe won his heart at age 34 and they spent the next 36 years together in wedded bliss. When asked how long they had been married, he would always reply “moments”.  Tom and Louise enjoyed sailing together for over 20 years on Lake Superior out of Siskiwit Bay marina in Cornucopia, WI where they made many lifelong friends. They travelled to Ireland several times to trace the Trant roots to Dingle. They cruised in the Hebridean Islands of Scotland a few times and vowed to go back.  When Tom turned 40, the Boy Scouts laid him off and as he worked at various non-profits, including MPR and the MN Academic Excellence Foundation he pursued his Masters Degree in Public Administration. He worked at several MN state agencies for the remainder of his career including DHS, Admin and OET.  While there, he continued at Hamline University and obtained his Doctorate in Public Administration.  After his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends in the north woods of WI at their tiny house at Camp Ole.

Tom will be remembered fondly by family and friends as a good man and a generous spirit. He respected women.  He was kind, considerate, and thoughtful and an avid reader, piano player and artist. He appreciated many of the finer things in life.  He is survived by his wife, sister and brother and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws, and Mike, the big red dog.  Memorials may be made to your local United Way to make sure as many non-profits in your community as possible see the benefit of your gift.  Tom would have wanted it that way.  A celebration of his life will be planned for the summer of 2022.