Thomas “Tom” James McWaters, 42, of Fisher, MN, died Tuesday morning, September 13, 2022, in a traffic accident on Grand Forks County Road 7 while en route to work at Interstate Power in Grand Forks, ND.
Tom was born in Crookston on April 26, 1980, the son of William and Barbara (Gebhardt) McWaters. He attended Crookston schools and spent summers during his high school years doing construction work with his uncle, Kenny Gebhardt. After high school, he began working for Grove Motor Sports in Crookston as a small engine mechanic. Tom was later employed at Crookston’s New Flyer Bus Company, then worked for Prime Wood in Wahpeton, ND. He returned to the area and became a welder for a shop in Grand Forks, and then as a welder at DMI in Fargo, ND. After spending several years as an over-the-road trucker, he began working for Interstate Power as a diesel mechanic on the big rigs to the present time.
Tom was a first-class fabricator and could fashion anything out of iron. All he needed was an idea and he created it, and it was perfect. He was an excellent electrician, and a man of many talents when it came to electronics. Tom became a ham radio operator several years ago and enjoyed Saturday morning coffee sessions with fellow operators, especially John Vik, and the great times he had “talking shop” with the late Steve Dufault. He was a longtime member of the NRA and enjoyed shooting at the local gun ranges whenever he had a chance.
Tom adored his fiancé, Ashley Bregier, and they shared their home in Fisher, MN, with her children, Morgan, Tristan, and Alyssa, whom he loved as his own. He always seemed to have a project or two going on around the house and spent lots of time maintaining and keeping up their swimming pool. Tom was definitely high on life and full of energy.
Tom will be very sadly missed by the love of his life, Ashley, and her children: Morgan, Tristan, and Alyssa; and their “fur babies” who were part of the family, dog, “Roo”, and cats: “Fat Cat”, “Jean”, and “Missy”. He is also survived by his loving mother, Barbara McWaters, and “the old guy”, Wayne Demarais, of Crookston, who he loved and considered to be his dad; brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Kelly McWaters of Wahpeton, ND; nephew, Ian McWaters of Wahpeton; his best friend, Wade Kelly of Paynesville, MN and his family; other relatives; and many wonderful friends. Tom was preceded in death by his father, William; grandparents, Fred and Henrietta Gebhardt; and uncle, Kenny Gebhardt.
Tom’s life will be celebrated privately by his family. Messages of condolence may be sent to them by going to his obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com.
