Rev. Thomas Krupich
August 5, 1955 ~ June 27, 2015
Father Thomas Joseph Krupich was born in Fargo on Aug. 5, 1955 to Ronald P. and Audrey J. (Gavin) Krupich. Tom had seven siblings: Tim (wife Mary), Todd (wife Brenda), Tammy (husband Mark), Tracy (husband Brian), Tony (wife Mary), Tara (wife Esther), and Tonya. He attended Nativity Elementary School and Shanley High School, both in Fargo, where he simultaneously attended elevated science courses at South High as well as Browns Institute. His interests and education found him at the family work shop inventing and fixing many amazing things for his family, friends and neighbors. This passion continued throughout his life and service to his communities.
After high school he simultaneously attended North Dakota State University and Cardinal Muench Seminary, both in Fargo. He earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Classical Languages in 1994. Later that year, he entered seminary formation at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He attended seminary there for a year. Then, he left for Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. where he completed his theology studies. On June 4, 1988, Father Krupich was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fargo by Bishop James Sullivan at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo.
His first assignment was parochial vicar of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks. He served there for two years. Following that first assignment he served St. Joseph’s parish, Grand Forks; St. Benedict’s parish, Rutten and Assumption Catholic Church, Starkweather. In 1991, he was appointed pastor of the parishes in Tappen, Steele and Lake William. After more than 10 years serving these parishes, he returned to St. Michael’s in Grand Forks.
Following his second assignment at St. Michael’s, Father Krupich served as pastor of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fairmont and as chaplain for the Carmel of Mary Monastery in Wahpeton from June 2003 to August 2005. In September 2005, he began serving the people of St. Boniface parish, Walhalla and Sts. Nerus and Achilleus parish, Neche until June 2011. During that time, he spent two years in a pastoral leadership formation program called “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds” sponsored by the Catholic Leadership Institute. He received his certificate of completion in 2010.
Father Krupich’s final priestly assignment was serving the people of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Fessenden; St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Hurdsfield and Holy Family Catholic Church, McClusky.
Father Krupich died on June 27, 2015 at the age of 59. He is survived by his mother Audrey, five brothers and sisters, 12 nieces and nephews, 10 great nieces and nephews and his very close extended family and friends.
A funeral vigil will be held at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo at 7 p.m. on Tues., June 30 with visitation from 6 – 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo at 10 a.m. on Wed., July 1. Father Krupich requested the Mass be celebrated in Extraordinary Form; therefore it will not be concelebrated by other priests in the diocese. Father Timothy Johnson will be the celebrant and Bishop John Folda will preach.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
He will be missed
My sympathies to his family.
Father Tom will be greatly missed in our little parish in McClusky. Shortly after starting to serve our parish, we found out our baby that we were expecting was to be born with a birth defect that made her incompatible with life. We carried her for 42 weeks and Father Tom was there with us the entire time and arrived at the hospital shortly after her birth and was able to meet her alive and confirm her. He has always selflessly gave his time to everyone who needed him. He will be greatly missed.
God speed, Father. His service here is done, and he did it well. We will truly miss him.
Tracy,
I am sorry to hear of your brother’s death. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Gary Fischer
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
I am stunned by Tom’s leaving us so unexpectedly. He served the people of his parishes admirably, and maybe the Lord thought his work here was done. I hope he will be an intercessor for all those whose lives he touched, and especially look out for his family from above. My sympathy to Audrey, all Tom’s siblings and extended family–he will be missed. Diane Gavin
Our heartfelt sympathy to the family of Father Krupich. We were blessed to have known him! Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Father tom will be missed. We really liked him at st Patricks in hurdsfield. He was an out going priest that was active in the community. I liked the quote he told my mom when dad and I missed church durring calving season. ” that’s ok they are doing gods work twking care of the cattle”. I really admired him for attend ring two of our bull sales on freezing cold days each year in which he blessed every pen of bulls prior to the sale and also blessed our new home after our youngest sons baptism. He was a good priest and a better man. He will be missed
By all at st Patricks and our community
So very sorry for your loss. So unexpected . My husband is a Lutheran Pastor in McClusky, Goodrich and until recently also in Hurdsfield.. We have had on several occasions such wonderful visits with Father Krupich. We will miss his kindness and the marvelous ministry he did in our community. May God continue to give you strength and comfort during this most difficult time. May you always hold dear memories in your heart of your wonderful son and brother and uncle.
U r greatly missed father. Me and my husband r glad we got to know u. U r my favorite priest. God bless you
Also to fathers family. U will be remembered in my prayers. I’m so sorry for ur loss. During confession .well at the end I told father he was my favorite and he gave me his rosary. Every time I pray it he is remembered. God bless u all so sorry for ur loss. He was our priest at holy family in mcclusky.
Much love and light to the entire Krupich family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Tim and Family I am so sorry for your loss!!! I am so glad I was able to talk to Tom at our Class Reunion a couple years ago, he truly seemed happy. Please know that prayers are being said for Tom and for all of your family!!!!
My husband Larry and I extend our deep sympathies to Fr. Tom Krupich’s family. Even as a young seminarian, Fr. Krupich assisted us in the pro-life movement here in Fargo years ago. I remember he had such a giving heart for the unborn and for their mothers in need. He helped us raise funds to educate and start what is now the FirstChoice Clinic, attended pro-life events and helped whenever he could. He will be missed.
May his soul rest in the loving arms of our Father in heaven.
Susan & Larry Richard
Horace, ND
Fr. Krupich officiated at our wedding in 1998 at a visiting parish, Sts. Peter and Paul of Strasburg. He confirmed me into the faith in HS, at St. Francis de Sales in Steele and was a great example of how to live out suffereing no matter who was against you. Further he and I were paired together as pen pals in 1986 when I was in sixth grade at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby ND. He was in seminary at the time. I had kept the picture that he sent to me of he and 3 other seminarians. I had kept it and came across it when I was in HS. I still have the picture to this day. Sadly he was the only one who was able to carry out the mission of him being a practicing Catholic priest. I still have it and run across it from time to time. He will remain as a mentor to me as to the sacrifice it takes to stick with the faith……..
Our sympathy to all, esp the family–and to the diocese of Fargo. My family has known Father since he was born and our children knew all the Krupich kids and we had good times in Fargo andand Potatoe Lake. Our prayers go out for him, Ken and Bernice and all our family
My children received communion and confirmation with Father, he will be missed.
May you rest in eternal peace with our heavenly father! You were a very kind and gentle soul and will be missed dearly!
Audrey and family,
Our deepest sympathies for your loss, may your memories help ease your pain.
Father Tom’s passing came as a total shock. My favorite memories to this day are the summer vacations that were spent on Potato Lake in Park Rapids. Water on, water off was the mantra at the Krupich’s cabin in those days. I had the fortune of becoming close friends with all the Krupich kids from both families from an early age. I was not a good fisherman but Tom had the patience to spend time with me. Tom had such a warm demeanor from an early age often wrapped in books and great discussions. It came as no surprise that God called him to the priesthood. A role he willingly accepted. The family, friends and parishioners lost one of the good ones without question and too soon. I send my support and prayers to all the family members and to those who knew and loved Tom. RIP my friend. Let us hold onto those great memories of Father Tom each day.
Father Krupich baptized our second daughter 16 years ago….he will always have a special place in our hearts…Our deepest condolences
The Mayers,
Monty and Kay
God speed, Father!
Fr. Tom baptized my youngest daughter nearly 21 years ago, along with several nephews and a niece, while he was a priest at St. Paul’s in Tappen. Our daughters learned how to ice skate and enjoyed the many Winters skating when Fr. Tom would make an ice skating rink in the empty lot next to the parish house in Tappen, where he lived.
God Bless.
Tam, so good to speak with you this afternoon and so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. I didn’t mean to intrude on your family time. Just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your mom. Take care and God bless. . . will look forward to visiting with you and your mom a bit later.
PAX FR THOMAS I LOVE YOU/ MAY YOU REST IN PEACE !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! JMJ
We will miss you Fr. Krupich! Thank you for teaching Eric the faith and giving him the Catholic confirmation. Also thank you for officiating at our marriage17 years ago. You are in our prayers!
Love,
Eric and Maria Wanchic
Bismarck
So sad and shocking to hear this! Fr. Tom: a great priest and like an older brother to me. A gentle soul who loved God and was willing to suffer for the truth and for his people. Rest in Peace dear brother!
J.M.J.
This morning, I was saddened to hear of the passing of +Father Krupich. May he rest in peace. I will offer the Holy Mass for his Soul’s happy repose. I have very fond memories of this good priest when we were together at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. His kindness and thoughtfulness remain unforgettable. May Jesus and Mary bless the Krupich Family and all those who mourn the departure of +Father Krupich from this earth.
He will be missed! I loved him like a father and I will never cease to pray for him!
Fr Tom and I were seminarians at Mount St Mary Seminary, and we were very good friends. I just learned about his passing today (5/8/2016) and was terribly saddened about it, especially at such a young age. He was always a great person, sincerely devoted to his faith and the people in his parishes, and one of the most honest people I ever met. No surprise to me that he was so loved in all his parish assignments. My prayers and condolences to his family and friends.
padre Tom krupich siempre busque por internet saber como estabas pero nunca llegue a encontrarte hasta hoy 18/06/2016, veo las noticias que ya no estas entre nosotros nuestro padre celestial te llevo a su lado, siempre te llevamos en nuestros corazones, nunca vamos a olvidar en la decada del 80 estuviste por Perú y te recibimos en nuestro hogar Familia Gutierrez Henriquez, Julian Gutierrez(papá), Aldimia Henriquez (mamá), juan carlos (hijo), jorge Luis (hijo), Mery Isabel (hija). Hasta siempre padre tomas krupich.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of father Tom. I was poking around the internet and learned of Tom and his dad Ron’s passing. They were both wonderful people. Fun to be around. My family went to a resort next to the Krupich cabin for many years and got to know the family. Great people.