Thomas Otto Wiltsie of Winnemucca passed away May 24, 2024 at the age of 84.
He was born in St. Charles Illinois to Charles and Jane Wiltsie.
After high school he joined the Coast Guard and served for 3 years on the Coast Guard Cutter Eastwind during Operation Deep Freeze, he sailed to the antarctic and around the world.
After being honorably discharged he spent many years working for various construction companies in Las Vegas and Reno, then moving to Doyle California where he owned and operated his own garage and towing company.
In the 1980’s he moved to Kings River where he worked for Cockeye Land and livestock.
He also worked for Hycroft, Rabbit Creek and Twin Creeks before finding the job he loved when he went to work for Simplot in Winnemucca, he worked there for many years and eventually retired.
His hobbies were restoring tractors and belonged to the local tractor club and enjoyed many years driving his tractors in the parades.
Tom was easy going and had a good sense of humor, always ready for a laugh and came up with special names for the people that were closest to him, his mother-in-law was “the old beetle”, which she found funny, and called his daughter Chimo.
Tom also recently professed his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when I asked him “Who is Jesus? and he replied, “My Lord and Savior”, I know Tom is in heaven.
He is survived by his wife Debby, children Wade, Stacy and Hayley and 10 grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Jane Wiltsie, brother Charles H. Wiltsie. I want to thank Guiding Light Hospice, Thea, Sam, Joelle, Mike and Dr. Tkach for your compassionate care these past 3 months and his friends that called or stopped by to see how he was doing.
A private burial will take place at the Winnemucca Cemetery.