Thomas Harold KELLEY

Tom H. Kelley
February 14, 1958 - October 15, 2020

Tom H. Kelley, 62, of Sioux Falls, SD, and President of Gage Brothers Concrete Products, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

Tom Harold Kelley took his last run on October 15, 2020. A life-long South Dakotan, Tom was born in Pierre on Valentine’s Day 1958 to Janis (McRae) and Tom D. Kelley. Tom was the second of seven children and took his role as a big brother seriously throughout his life, always making time to take care of his siblings and help them when needed. He graduated from Pierre T.H. Riggs High School in 1976 and married Julie Alison Perry on October 2, 1976. The couple began their married life in Rapid City, where Tom earned a B.S. in civil engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in May 1980.

Following graduation, Tom joined Gage Brothers Concrete. From his initial position as a civil engineer, he was quickly promoted into a series of leadership roles. In 2001, he officially took over as CEO of the company. Throughout his career, Tom earned accolades for his work locally at Gage Brothers and in the national and international precast industry. He was honored as the National Society of Professional Engineers South Dakota Outstanding Young Engineer in 1987. He was a leader in the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. In 2013, he founded its international committee, which he chaired until 2016. He served on the PCI Board of Directors from 2008-2014, and as chair in 2013. He was given the industry’s most prestigious awards of Distinguished Award of a PCI Fellow in 2015 and the Mario J. Bertolini Leadership and Innovation Award in 2019. He had a passion for his industry and loved to tell anyone who would listen about the miracles of concrete, especially precast. He gave frequent guest lectures at local colleges and traveled the world advising other firms on their manufacturing processes. In February 2020, when Gage Brothers opened its new state-of-the-art plant, Tom hoped he had fulfilled his promise to A.C. Gage to leave the business better than he found it.

During their nearly thirty years in Brandon, Tom and Julie raised three children and nurtured their church, school, and civic communities. Despite his busy professional life, Tom always made time for his children, helping with school projects and encouraging their academic, athletic, and artistic pursuits. With his support, all of his children obtained advanced degrees, and Tom was not shy about bragging of their accomplishments. Tom also gave his time and talents to support all kids in the Brandon Valley Schools. He coached tee-ball, softball, and basketball teams; was a dedicated band parent and Optimist Club member; and supported capital campaigns for the district.

As empty nesters in 2009, Tom and Julie moved to Sioux Falls. Tom gave of himself as generously to the Sioux Falls community as he had in Brandon. He was a long-time member and eventual chair of Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota. In 2012, Tom co-chaired the group Build It Now Sioux Falls to advocate for construction of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Most recently, he was proud to collaborate with SD Voices for Peace and Pathways to Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces with the goal of making Sioux Falls a more welcoming place for all. He chaired the board of directors for Sanford USD Medical Center, where he built a profound friendship with Paul Hanson. A highlight of Tom’s week was the Friday morning “Table of Knowledge” gathering with other business leaders.

During the last several years, Tom spent more time at his second home in Buckeye, AZ, running and playing golf with his many friends. As he had with his own children, Tom volunteered to coach his four grandsons’ soccer and basketball teams. He taught them the finer points of golf with a generous helping of wisdom and advice on the side. Tom was an avid conversationalist and practiced storyteller with an easy laugh. He often passed the time with Sudoku and other brainteasers. He always strived to do what was right personally and professionally. He was taken too early.

Tom was preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his wife Julie (Perry) Kelley (Sioux Falls, SD); his children Amy Kelley (Sioux Falls, SD), Susan (Travis) Wicks (Madison, SD), Tom M. (Laura Hatfield) Kelley (Brookline, MA); his grandchildren Ronan Wicks (Madison, SD) and William, Zachary, and Andrew Osdoba (Sioux Falls, SD); his mother-in-law Marge Perry (Brandon, SD); and his siblings Jane (Gerry) Oligmueller (Lincoln, NE), Jackie (Tim) Polzin (San Tan Valley, Arizona), Patty (Richard) Maestas (Aurora, CO), Scott Kelley (Sioux Falls, SD), Katie (Gene) Nanstiel (Maricopa, Arizona), and Stevie (Skip) Trudel (Hillsboro, ND) and many nieces and nephews.

Contributed on 5/6/24 by 9katz
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