Thomas Marlin Threlkeld

Thomas Marlin Threlkeld was born on February 21, 1942,  in Newport, Washington, to George and Doris (nee Berry) Threlkeld. He was the middle child and only son in a family of three children.

Tom spent his early years in Washington and Oregon before moving to Flagstaff, Arizona. After working in the uranium mines, he married Leanne Coffin from Flagstaff in September 1964 and was employed with family and friends thereafter.

In January of 1966, Tom enlisted in the US Navy, beginning his service with Recruit Training in San Diego, California. Following his training, Tom and Leanne moved to  Pensacola, Florida, where Tom attended school. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Tori, in September 1966.  In May 1967, Tom was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while his family returned to Arizona. During his service, he became a Communications Technician, Second Class, mastering Morse code and handling top-secret information. He often humorously remarked, “But I never had to serve on a ship.” In 1968, the family spent a year in Hanza, Okinawa, and returned to the United States in September 1969.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Tom embarked on a successful career in real estate, ultimately becoming the broker of his firm in Kingman, Arizona. The family grew with the birth of their second child, son Gregory, in 1971.

The Threlkeld family were active members of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Kingman, deeply involved in their Christian faith. Tom served in various church roles over the years, which led to a new career in life insurance with Aid Association for Lutherans-Thrivent, where he worked for several years before retiring.

Tom cherished time spent with family and friends, always eager to learn about people’s lives and what motivated them. He had a talent  for telling jokes and humorous stories, earning a reputation for his beloved "dad jokes."

In September 2021, Tom moved to the Denver, Colorado area to live with his older sister, Tod Selner. He embraced the cooler climate and quickly formed friendships with neighbors and members of Zion Lutheran Church. Tom enjoyed participating in a men's Bible study led by the retired pastor, 'putzing' around in the yard, and sitting and visiting on the porch and at the local coffee shop. Most importantly, he treasured visits with his children and grandchildren.

Tom was welcomed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on the morning of March 17, 2025, in Brighton, Colorado following lung cancer surgery.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by daughter Tori Thompson (Doug); son Gregory Threlkeld (Lindsay); three grandchildren, Jordan, Jackson, and Jillian; sisters Tod Selner and Wendy Leon; and many other family members and friends.

A Memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona  on May 10, 2025 at 11:00AM. 

As Jesus said, ”I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”  JOHN 11:25, 26

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