Obituary published on Legacy.com by Nelson Funeral Care - Cloquet on Jan. 21, 2026.
Thomas "Tom" DeCaigny, age 73, of
Cloquet, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton, Minnesota.
A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Refreshments will be served throughout his celebration. Inurnment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet at a later date.
Tom grew up in Cloquet and graduated from Cloquet High School in 1970. He spent much of his working life in retail, first working at Yanda's Grocery and later taking over the business from his grandmother, renaming it DeCaigny's Grocery. He later went on to work for many years at Super One Foods in Cloquet before retiring. In each of these roles, Tom was a familiar and welcome presence to coworkers and customers alike, known for his friendly demeanor, strong work ethic, and genuine enjoyment of connecting with people.
At a dance at the Cloquet Armory, Tom met the love of his life and best friend, Linda. The two recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, a milestone that reflected a lifetime of love, partnership, and shared laughter.
Tom was known for his warm heart, wicked sense of humor, and natural ability to make people laugh and smile. He had a way of putting others at ease and could brighten a room with a well-timed joke. He was also a talented illustrator who enjoyed sketching and drawing to express his creativity.
In later years, Tom lived with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a challenging neurological condition. Despite its progression, he always maintained his sense of humor and good spirit, continuing to bring light and laughter to those around him.
Tom especially cherished special visits with his cousin Mary (Mike) Shaw, who joined him weekly for bingo at Inter-Faith Care Center-moments that brought him joy, connection, and fun.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Linda DeCaigny; his children, Tom (Seth) DeCaigny and Jeff (Heather) DeCaigny; his grandchildren, Tanner Geving, Izabel DeCaigny, Arianna Adamscheck, and Isaiah Adamscheck; his siblings, Nancy Tario and Steve (Laura) Goldberg; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends who will miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie Wolf; his father, John DeCaigny; and his brothers, Jerry DeCaigny and Roger Goldberg.
Tom will be remembered for his kindness, creativity, humor, and the genuine warmth he shared with everyone he met. His legacy lives on in the laughter he inspired and the love he gave so freely.