Dewayne Tuma

DeWayne Lee Tuma of Crystal, passed away peacefully of stroke related complications while in hospice care at North Memorial Hospital Robbinsdale on March 21st, at the age of 81.

DeWayne was born April 8, 1938 in New Prague Minnesota. He played on the New Prague High School basketball team and enjoyed playing in the Minnesota state high school basketball tournaments in both 1955 and 1956 with teammate Ron Johnson. While in high school he met his future wife, Deanna Rotter, who attended his rival high school in Montgomery. He graduated from New Prague High School in 1956 and went on to earn a bachelors degree in Business from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1960, the year in which he also wed Deanna on August 13th.

DeWayne spent his career working in commercial insurance before retiring in May of 2003 from his long-term employer T.C. Field and Company Insurance, St. Paul Minnesota, where he filled the role of Vice President.

Anyone who knew DeWayne was aware of his great business and financial acumen as well as his love for investing. Lesser known is that he spent so much of his life, as well as many of his retirement years, focusing on his family to make certain they would be taken care of once he was gone. From researching the best way to ensure his daughter Michelle, with special needs, would be taken care of, through to finding the best college savings plans for his granddaughter Alexa (who is currently attending his alma matter Gustavus Adolphus), it is clear that DeWaynes family meant absolutely everything to him and he did all that he could to protect them. His happiest moments were spent with family, enjoying fishing vacations over the summer months at lakes in northern Minnesota, attending Twins games and horse races at Canterbury Downs, and simply sitting down to Sunday night dinners, these were the moments DeWayne cherished. Described by many as a very gentle man with a kind soul, he drew people to him and greatly appreciated those who helped him. DeWayne fought in his later years with many health issues and never gave up, probably doing so more for his family than himself. DeWayne has surely reunited now with his wife and other loved ones in heaven. May his beautiful soul rest in the peace he so deserves.

He is survived by his daughters Susan (Dennis) Paulson and Michelle Tuma; beloved granddaughter Alexa Paulson; nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Deanna (Rotter); parents Thomas and Mathilda (Schlauderaff); sister Genevieve Nelson and brother in-law Curtis Nelson; brother Lloyd Tuma and sister-in-law Shirley (Johnson); sister Ardelle Tuma.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 10th, 2020 at 11:00 am at St, Johns Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials can be given to The Willows of Arbor Lakes, a memory care facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where DeWayne lived out the last months of his life under wonderful care.