- Date Of Birth: December 15, 1931
- Date Of Death: January 19, 2018
- State: Minnesota
Thomas Leonard Bye, of St. Anthony Village, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was 86 years old.
Thomas was born in Northeast Minneapolis on December 15, 1931, the first child of Agnes and Leonard Bye. Tom was a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities. He graduated from DeLaSalle High School in 1950 and remained life-long friends with his classmates. After one year of employment with Honeywell, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served his country for 4 years during the Korean Conflict. At the conclusion of his service, Tom resumed his career with Honeywell.
On January 26, 1957, Tom married Barbara Layeux and began their 61 years of life together, raising 5 children. Family, friends, community service, faith and career defined Tom Bye. He will be remembered for his strength, patience, intuition, and mechanical mind. He had a wonderful sense of humor along with a positive and adventurous spirit. Tom was devoted to his children. Whether it was pulling water skiers from mid-morning to “just one more time” at sunset, to coaching their various ball teams, helping with religion classes, attending and supporting their activities, and seeing each through the various schools that they attended, he always had an active interest in their lives, careers and families.
Tom was a dedicated and loyal Honeywell employee for 41 years, earning the Honeywell Harry Long Memorial Award in recognition of his leadership and management skills. Tom was especially proud of his and his company’s role in getting U.S. astronauts to the moon for NASA’s Apollo Program.
Tom loved to travel with his wife and friends, and did so throughout the U.S. and to many countries worldwide. Together they enjoyed entertaining, family birthdays, golf matches, hosting the traditional family Christmas Eve dinner, card clubs, their river cabin, collecting and selling antiques, and the theater. Tom and Barb continued their education by completing 16 years of independent study in the University of St. Thomas’s Selim Center Program. In addition, they were charter members of the NE Historic Church Tour and Sunday Morning Breakfast Club. They both devoted many hours towards the preservation/restoration and the social programs of their favorite church: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in NE Minneapolis. (Currently under renovation)
In his retirement years Tom took great pleasure in his grandkids and was an avid “autograph seeker,” requesting their autographs on the event programs for the school and sporting events he attended. He was passionate about repairing and refurbishing antique lights and fixtures and becoming the “Light Man” at Art & Architecture. He loved the customer interaction and was proud that his light fixtures adorn numerous restaurants in the Twin Cities along with countless home renovations throughout the metropolitan area.
Tom loved a good game of poker, duck hunting on Lake Pomroy, the Minnesota seasons, fixing whatever needed fixing, and all things Minnesota Sports, especially the Vikings, Twins and Gophers.
Tom is survived by his wife Barbara; his five children: Andrea (Don) Zeman, Anita (David) Seviola, Lisa Barnitt (Ron Beltz), Mike Bye (Alicia), and Mary Kay (Marty) Krogman; seven grandchildren and their spouses, eight great-grandchildren; his sister in-law, LaVaughn Bye, and four nieces and nephews and their spouses.
He is preceded in death by his parents Agnes and Leonard Bye, his brother William “Bill” Bye, his wife’s parents Myrtle and Hector Layeux, and his sister-in-law Anita Rocheford.
