Kenneth "Kenny" Thomes

Kenneth F. “Kenny” Thomes, age 79 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, September 19, 2025 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, October 11 at the church in Melrose.

Kenneth Frank Thomes was born February 1, 1946 in Melrose, Minnesota to Aloys and Marie (Poepping) Thomes. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1964. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1963 to 1968. On July 9, 1966 he married Kathleen Middendorf at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Kenny worked at Kraft Foods in Melrose for 19 years and then started and operated Tri-County Pest Control, retiring in 2016. During retirement, he enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, going on occasional casino runs, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. While at the casino, he had more fun taking the grandchildren to play in arcade area then he did gambling. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling and playing softball.

Kenny was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, American Legion Post 101, and a member of the VFW Drill Team.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Thomes of Melrose; children, Kim (Stewart) Schwinghammer of St. Augusta, Keith (Tracy) Thomes of Alexandria, and Kyle (Kathleen) Thomes of Meire Grove; grandchildren, Ashley (Dylan) Briggs, Honor-Ra (Ryan) Miller, Dezerae Thomes, Isabel Schwinghammer, and Gabriel Schwinghammer; great-grandchildren, Gavin and Mason Briggs; and brother and sisters, JoAnn (Jerry) Loecken, Jerry (Gloria) Thomes, Mary Kay (Ron) Althaus, Karen (Greg) Studer, and Brenda (Dave) Blonigen.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents; Al and Marie Thomes; sister and brother-in-law, Lila (David) Thomas; and one infant sister.