Thomas "Tom" Stiller Jr
April 30, 1944 ~ April 2, 2017
Thomas B. ”Tom“ Stiller Jr. quietly wandered out of this world on April 2, 2017. A man of grace, dignity, and artistic prowess, Tom lived a life of passion and beauty. He died peacefully at home.
Tom was born on April 30, 1944, in Glendive, MT. The youngest child of Thomas Bernard and Rose Elizabeth (Kearnes) Stiller, Tom was independent and able to both aggravate and idolize his siblings.
After graduating from Josef’s School of Hair Design, Tom dove passionately into the hairstyling career he loved for the next 50 years. Throughout his career, Tom not only worked at various salons in the Fargo area but was the owner of Tom’s Towers. His clients adored him as much as he adored each of them. Even after his faltering health made working more of a challenge, Tom continued to be present for his guests.
Tom’s artistic abilities and love of beauty were not limited to his career. He was a woodcarver, creating everything from primitive ducks to a totem pole that still overlooks Lake Tschida. He was also passionate about gardening. Not one to plant only hosta, Tom enjoyed finding the unique and discovering what would and wouldn’t grow in the rich soils of the Red River Valley. His cooking often included herbs and vegetables from his garden as well as fresh game. Melding flavors and finding their harmonies was something Tom excelled at, as tasted in his award winning salsa.
Tom held a deep connection with the outdoors, spending hours outside wandering fields and enjoying the sights and smells of nature, maybe even finding an arrowhead or two along the way. He was a hunter, fisherman, and forager, embracing the natural resources North Dakota and Minnesota provided. Tom always knew where the morel mushrooms would first show themselves in the spring and was right there to greet them. Tom’s love of nature, art, and beauty blended together in many elements of his life.
Tom was a man with an easy smile and a practical joke at the ready. His baritone voice amplified his storytelling though not always his cribbage game. He was a teacher, leader, father, and friend.
He was known as “Dad” to Thomas Stiller III (Susan), Jason Stiller (Bren), Kindiss Stiller (Bobby Flanagan), and William Stiller (Amanda Carlson); “Papa Tom” to Thomas IV, Cole and Zolea Stiller and MacNamare Flanagan; and friend to many.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Stiller. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, sisters Marlene Brown and Shirley Taraba, and brother Laverne Stiller.
He will continue to live and be remembered in the hearts of many.
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I will miss seeing him around our neighbor hood and the times he would drop by to thank my husband for clearing the snow in front of his house,even though we just did it to help out those around us. I also will miss his smiling face & the beautiful difrent types of plant’s he would have in front & in back of his house. He was a great person & will be missed greatly.
You will be added to my prayers!
Tom, in reading about his cooking, I remember when you had me over in Fargo, for duck soup. I’m gonna say…. wasn’t prepared for that! 😉😁
He lived a good & full life, doing what he loved.
Many hugs to all! ❤
I was fortunate enough to be not only a “client” of Tom’s, but a friend as well…..I was one of the last clients to have my hair done by Tom before he became so ill…I will always cherish the time I spent with him and how we shared so much together, especially cooking tips !!..He was one in a million and could be gruff at times but he had the heart of a teddy bear…..Nancy Monson, Arlene Boyum and I always laughed and said we were his “Groupies”…RIP “Mr Tom”…..You will be missed by all of us…
Tom started doing my hair when I was about 22 I’m now 71. He gave both my daughters their 1st haircuts. Over the years he became not just my hair stylist, but my confidant, my therapist and my friend. He was intellectual, talented, artistic,funny,kind and very sincere. A part of my heart broke when he told me about his cancer, he worried more about not keeping appointments during his chemo. When he broke his wrist several years ago would come in and oversee work done on his clients
Tom will be missed, but he will not be replaced, someone will cut my hair, but it won’t be Tom, A piece of my heart is gone. He was so proud of his children and grand children. He was a truly wonderful man who will be missed by any who knew him.
His children and grandchildren are in my prayers.
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Tom and I became friends 18 years ago when we worked together at hair success and as the years went on we got to spend a lot of time together. My husband Dave, Tom and myself started cooking together every Thursday night, and through the years many different friends would join us for those meals. We had a lot of fun casino trips along w many nights sitting on patios and Sunday morning coffee. There were even a few holidays spent together. I know how dear your children and grandchildren were to you and how proud of them you were and we can see why. We will miss you “buddy”……you were a great friend 💕. RIP Tom and we will reunite again.
Love, Dave and Mary Chapman
Tom became my brother when he married my sister. His children are my nieces and nephews and ours are his. Tom made everything better. Crab at Christmas, morels in spring, the lake in the summer. He rescued me from my do it yourself hair dye and made me laugh and laugh. He teased all of us especially my husband, his buddy, Tim. Mostly he brought four of the finest humans beings into our lives along with their families. The world is better because of him and leaves an echo without him.
Love and well wishes to the family!
Today I learned my mentor and friend Tom , has passed from this life. He was a compassionate , kind ,generous man . I would not be where I am today without his ability to share his knowledge of the hair industry, and the importance of friendship, both in my personal life and behind the chair. I regret not spending more time with him these past few years. We would go to lunch , exchange recipes, gardening tips and haircuts. My heart broke a bit today…
So sad to hear of Tom’s passing. He was a lot of fun to work with back in the early 90’s. He also gave a lot of good advice, not to mention great shoulder massages! 🙂 He will surely be missed very much by his family as well as his work family at Hair Success. RIP Tom. Deb & Glen Dilly
Just learned of Tom’s passing. It was a shock, as he seemed as if he was doing so well the last time I saw him a couple of months ago. He was a gentleman. We always enjoyed our talks about books, recipes and mutual friends. Such a sad day…Rest in peace, Tom.
I, too, was a long-time client of Tom, seeing him every four weeks for 50 years. I thanked him many times for putting up with me and my hair idiosyncrasies. He did think it was strange but laughed anyway! I always got a fabulous cut with many people asking who did my hair. Being close in age, many of our life-time events coincided, providing us with lots of children and grandchildren conversations. He shared recipes, snacks, and knew of or could recommend skilled labor for most projects that I would be dreaming up. It was with sadness when he told me of his cancer, then relief when he thought it was in remission and had a few more years–then the headache. With a heavy heart, that was the last time I talked to him. My condolences to Tommy, Jason, Kindiss and Billy and their families.
Rest in peace my dear friend. Our family will miss you.
I was 15 when you started doing my hair.
We shared many special events and talked about life events in your chair… My first prom, my wedding hair, my first perm, you were the first to cut Jessica’s and Jacob’s hair. For years you shared your lunch with me as we were both hungry during my noon hour appts during the work day. You shared salsa, morels, fabulous heirloom tomatoes, trumpet flower seeds, and many recipes, but more than that you shared yourself.
You clearly loved and were so proud of your kids, I will miss hearing about them and seeing their pictures. Trips to mpls and TRADERS
JOES will always remind me of you.
Your kindness, caring, and willingness to listen will be remembered. Thank you for being my professional stylist, but also my friend for the last 43 years.
Tom did my hair for my wedding…and this May I will be married 25 years. He would always roll his eyes when I would tell him every time to not cut my bangs too short, then he would remind me of how many years he has been doing my hair, LOL! I will miss sharing recipes with him and hearing about his family, which I know he loved very much❤
Tom, (Chaach) is what I nicknamed you years ago!! I too miss your cooking tips, lavosh, mushrooms, artichoke dip, so many more! I loved Friday morning talks about your Thursday night cooking or casino run with Mary and Dave, always a smile when you would tell me about your night. You kind of started a tradition a couple years ago on April 12 which is National Grilled Cheese Day. It turned into an event! (Lol) We had sign up sheets for who was bringing what cheeses or certain breads etc. You would graciously make grilled cheese for all of us!! We’ll keep this tradition going, talking about you and hopefully making you proud of us and tasting as good! I miss you and love you Chaach!! Thanks for all the cheek kisses!!
Shannon
Tom was my boss at Park Towers beauty salon back in the late 1960″s and early 70’s. Those were awesome years, and Tom was the best. RIP Tom.
To the Stiller Family; I was saddened to read of Tom’s passing. I have fond memories of Tom when I was a teenager. Then over the years sporadically encountering Tom in various places. We always had a hug and a laugh. The family is my thoughts and prayers during this time of transition.
Tom was my first real hair stylist, beginning at Park Towers in the mid-70’s and on into the 2000’s. My hair went from long to short; there were perms; and he saw me through the re-growth after chemotherapy. I followed him from location to location. I have his delicious recipe for pheasant stroganoff. I had not seen him for some time and did not know he was ill. My condolences to his family, some of whom I knew also. May the support of family, friends, and faith be with all of them.
Tom was a kind and decent man. We need more like him. Michael O McGuire
Tom wa a kind and decent man. We need more like him.
Tom Tom .. I knew him for nearly 50 years and lived across the street from Tom on 8th Ave. So. in Fargo. RIP my friend.
Stiller family: I am so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing, your loss. I worked for him at Tom’s Towers for almost a year. I was always amazed at his ability… no, his gift, for doing hair. And I have always looked back on my time at Tom’s Towers with fondness, both for what I learned from him and for his being like a father figure to me. I wish I could have seen him just one more time.
May God bring you peace and comfort during this time of grief.
I am going to miss you, Tom!
My sincere condolences to Thomas & Susan and the entire Stiller family. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.