Tom Mogensen

Thomas Carl Mogensen was born on February 4, 1936, to Carl and Mary (Gaffey) Mogensen in a tiny white house beneath the monumental water tower in Salix, Iowa. He grew up on a farm where the family raised cattle, hogs and milked cows by hand. Tom attended school in Sergeant Bluffs, Iowa, where he enjoyed playing football and basketball.

In June of 1954, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy and became a Hospital Corpsman stationed in San Diego, California. When he and his friends had time off from the base, they often headed to the beach. It was there that Tom met the sister of one of his friends. That tall beauty, Marilyn Theel, would become the love of his life.

Tom and Marilyn were united in marriage on February 23, 1957. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Mike, Julie and Becky.

While living in California, Tom worked as a welder before the family eventually moved to Pipestone in 1971. It was there he began a career in long-distance trucking, traveling countless miles to the West Coast and down south.

Tom’s CB handle was “Taco” and before long, many people knew him simply as Taco Tom. His stories were endless, and so were the miles he traveled. He loved having family and friends ride along with him on his trips, although one thing was never guaranteed – you never knew exactly when you would get home!

Sometimes Tom would make it home in a week, while other trips could last as long as three weeks. But, whenever he did make it home, he was the life of the party. Everyone wanted to spend time with him, and Tom never seemed to know the word “No”.

One of Tom’s favorite titles was Grandpa Taco. The minute he got off the road, he was headed to the farm, pockets full of everyone’s favorite candy. Somehow, he always managed to make it in time for noon lunch and a game of Pepper.

Tom was an avid Arrow sports fan and loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. There was no snowstorm bad enough to keep Grandpa Taco at home if his grandkids were playing; he was going to be there cheering them on.

Tom passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Pipestone County Hospice House at the age of 90.

Tom is lovingly remembered by his children, Mike (Brenda) Mogensen of Welches, Oregon, Julie (Doug) VanderPoel of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Becky (Larry) Evans of Pipestone; grandchildren, Mari (Dan) Wagner, Kristin (Jon) Schomacker, Scott (Jessie) VanderPoel, Megan (Jarret) Janke, Kelly (Ben) Hayden, Danny (Kiersten) Mogensen, Aaron (Alejandra) Holtan, Chase Holton, and Whitney (Allan) Cheateaux; great-grandchildren, Avery and Connor (Jess) Wagner, Kelby, Maddox and Stella Schomacker, Drake, Neva, Renae and Claire VanderPoel, Henry, Eden, Gracie and Sadie Janke, Collins and Briggs Hayden, Madeline Mogensen, Trip Holten, and Ole Cheateaux; sisters-in-law, Donna Mogensen and Judy Theel; brothers-in-law, Bill (Kathy) Theel, and Randy (Cozette) Theel.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Mogensen; parents, Carl and Mary Mogensen; infant sister, Lola; brothers, Jerry, Dan and Robert Mogensen; and one grandson, Thomas Mogensen.