Tom M. Mall

Tom Mall, 85, died Tuesday, March 26, at the Washington County Hospital. A funeral service was at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 30, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer. Pastor Tom Sahl officiated. Anita Singular played the organ and the congregation sang, "How Great Thou Art" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Casket bearers were Kenny Weaver, Travis Bott, Jay Mall, Craig Dankenbring, Kent Scheele and Steve Struber. Burial was in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Palmer. Tom M. Mall was born April 4, 1927 at Broughton, Kansas the son of Roy H. and Beulah Brouillette Mall. He attended country school and graduated in 1944 from Clay Center High School. Tom attended Kansas State College for three years and then served in the Army for two years. On January 11, 1953 he was united in marriage to Joan Dankenbring at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer, Kansas. This union was blessed with six children, Mark, Scott, Linda, Alan, Larry and Bradley. Joan passed away April 11, 1998. Tom married Norma Behrens Flear on April 24, 1999 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Barnes, Kansas. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer. On October 15, 1955 Tom started working for Albert and Florence Higgins at the Linn-Palmer Record. In 1962 he purchased the Record Publishing Company. Soon after, he took over publication of the Barnes Chief and Greenleaf Sentinel. In addition to the weekly issues of the newspapers he was responsible for many other printing jobs. In March of 2012 Tom retired from the newspaper business and continued with job work and writing his "Tommy's Hits and Misses" column. His last column appeared in the March 21, 2013 issue of The Linn-Palmer Record. Mr. Mall was a member of the Wholmoor American Legion Post 237, Linn Booster Club and had earlier served as a co-chair of the Linn Picnic committee. Tom is survived by his wife, Norma of Linn; sons, Mark Mall of Tonganoxie, Scott Mall of Manhattan, Alan Mall of Salina, Larry Mall of Miltonvale, Brad (Jeanette) Mall of Peculiar, MO; daughter, Linda (Lenis) Weaver of Barnes; step-daughters, Ramona (John) Hiesterman of Washington, Brenda (Dewain) Reith of Linn; eight grandchildren, Dalton Mall, Kenny (Sheree) Weaver, Renae (Travis) Bott, Marissa Weaver, Nathan Mall, Jacob Mall, Logan Mall, Kylie Mall; great-grandchildren, Hunter, Caden, Chase Weaver, Briette Bott; step-grandchildren, Brandon Reith, Holly (Chris) Duskin, Tina (John) Meier; and step-great grandchildren, Sarah, Brad and Rachel Meier and Ian Duskin; many in-laws and a host of relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, Joan (Dankenbring) Mall; daughter-in-law, Karen Mall; brothers, Floyd Mall and Maurice Mall; sister, Betty Dickinson;and four grandchildren, Ronald, Carolyn, Denise and Darren Weaver. A memorial fund has been established in his name and will be designated by the family. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tom M. Mall, please visit our flower store.