Thomas Roy Ingebretson, 89, of Modesto, passed away at Casa de Modesto. Thom was born in Leland, Iowa to Eli and Bertha Igebretson, grew up in Forest City, IA and graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, IA with an Associate Degree in Architecture. He married Helen Hartman in Feb. of 1957 in Fairmont, MN in a double wedding with friends Donna and Dick Swanson. Thom was an architect designing homes and churches before his main career as a lighting engineer which he enjoyed in the Chicago area for over 30 years lighting up the roadways, buildings, and sports stadiums in the Midwest.
Thom was a gifted singer with a heart for God, music, and people. He was an active member of the Glee Club at Waldorf and in Fort Dodge, IA, choir member and soloist at Prince of Peace Church while raising his family, and was an active member at Big Valley Grace, then Calvary Chapel in Modesto. Losing his vision after retirement never stopped his passion for people, as he joined and ultimately was President of the VIP’s (Visually Impaired Persons), worked as an Ombudsman for the AAOA (Area Agency on Aging), and frequent speaker on behalf of the Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA), who generously provided him with 2 sequential guide dogs, Gonzo and Whitman.
Thom was preceded in death by his parents and 4 siblings: Robert and Andrew Ingebretson, Barbara Krupp, and Lucille Rastad. He is survived by the wife he thoroughly adored for 59 years, Helen Ingebretson of Modesto; children: Steven (Deidre) Ingebretson of Concord, CA, Shelley (Larry) Harris of Tucson, AZ, and Scott (Kathy) Ingebretson of Edmonds, WA; brother Chester (Gloria) Ingebretson of Sho-low, AZ, and brother-in-law Richard Rastad of Phoenix, AZ; 7 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, Sept, 14th at Calvary Chapel, 1400 American Ave, Modesto, CA. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts for Guide Dogs for the Blind, (guidedogs.com), PO Box 151200, San Rafael, CA 94915. Please leave memories and condolences at www.allenmortuary.com.
