Thomas Willard Edlund, 73, of Owatonna, passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at his home from a heart attack.

He was born February 2, 1951, in Wilmar, Minnesota the son of Willard and Elise (Radunz) Edlund. He grew up and graduated from Swanville High School in 1969. After high school Thomas continued his education in Sartell with a degree in Machining. He would then move to Owatonna to work at OTC, later named Bosch, retiring in 2013. Thomas was united in marriage to Gloria Eliason-Cox on April 25, 1998, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Owatonna.

Thomas lived for hunting and fishing. He loved his hunting trips out west to Colorado and Wyoming. Thomas and Gloria would go fishing on Mille Lacs Lake where the couple had a cabin for 10 years, and also to Canada with his fishing buddies. The couple would travel to various areas of the United States together, but he loved to go to the east coast to visit his family and to see Niagara Falls. Those who knew Thomas know how much he loved to tell his fishing and hunting stories.

He is survived by his wife Gloria Cox-Edlund of Owatonna; step-son, Allen Cox of Owatonna; 3 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; sister, Gayla (Steve) Schmerbeck, and their children Phil (Nadine), and Patty; great niece, Emma; sister, Jackie (Ronnie) Braun, and their children Erik Braun, Ingrid (Dylan) Ricks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Elise Edlund; step-daughters, Dawn Hanneman and Denise Nelson.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 1-4PM at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna, with a short time of remembrances at 1:30PM.