Tom Charles Sailor, 68, passed away peacefully at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, SD, on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.  A celebration of Life service will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, January 22, 2021 at Big Springs Baptist Church with visitation held from 4:00-6:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alcester Fire Department at 211 E 1 ^st St, Alcester, SD, 57001.

Tom was born March 16, 1952, in Vermillion to Ken and Dorothy (Scott) Sailor.  Tom attended Vermillion High School and graduated in 1971.  He went to auto body repair school in Springfield, SD.  He was a member of Big Springs Baptist Church.

On April 13, 1974, Tom married Cindy Schempp at Big Springs Baptist Church in Alcester, SD.  They were blessed with 3 children, Ryan, Ross, and Rebekah, and raised them in the Alcester area.  Tom owned a car repair shop in Alcester for years and enjoyed being a part of the 9 o'clock coffee club and downtown crew.  At the end of his career, he used his welding skills at Hawarden Machine (For-Most,) building livestock equipment in Hawarden, IA.  He enjoyed riding his road bike and participated in the RAGBRAI ride across Iowa a number of years.

Tom loved staying active in his recent retirement.  He always had projects he was working on, whether it was re-siding the house with his friend Dave, building a shed, remodeling the kitchen, updating the duplex home he owned, or fixing up one of his old cars he loved.  Tom had a creative side and enjoyed building/designing/creating things.  He really enjoyed attending his grandchildren's games, activities, and performances.  Recently, he had more time to bowl and had fun bowling with friends.

Tom is survived by his wife, Cindy, in Alcester; son, Ryan Sailor and his wife, Andrea, in Sioux Falls, son, Ross Sailor and his wife, Johanna, in Rapid City, and daughter, Rebekah Dekkenga and her husband, Seth, in Sioux Falls; 8 grandchildren,  Megan and Brandon, Toby and Parker, Jude and Levi, and Jenni and Jalissa; sister, Mary Branson and her husband, Mike, in Elk Point; father-in-law and mother-in-law Rodney and Lois Schempp in Alcester; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Rick and Joni Schempp in Alcester, Perry and Linda Schempp in Sioux Falls, Wendy Schempp Olson in Sioux Falls, and Jaimey and Jenelle Schempp in Alcester.  He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Ken and mother Dorothy, and brother-in-law, Cal Olson.