Excelsior, MN - Our loving husband and father, Thomas (Tom) Steward, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family on July 23 at the age of 72, after valiantly living with Stage 4 lung cancer for more than seven years.

Tom was born in Mason City, Iowa, and raised in Cokato, Minnesota, alongside his three brothers. A lifelong journalist, his remarkable career spanned continents and causes from covering the fall of the Berlin Wall and earning a Peabody Award with NPR, to tracking endangered Sumatran tigers and rhinos for Discovery. He later worked in political communications and most recently helped transform the Center of the American Experiment into a trusted news source.

Tom had eclectic passions and a huge heart for dogs, fishing trips with friends, Minnesota Gopher games, Hallmark movies, his cabin by the lake and the beaches of Sanibel Island. But his greatest joys were his faith and his family.

He met his wife, Colleen Needles, while working at KSTP and WCCO-TV. Married for 41 years, they raised three children - Tommy, Jack, and Annie and welcomed two grandchildren, Olivia and Shepard, with another on the way. A big kid at heart, Tom led his family on adventures across national parks, through the jungles of Costa Rica, and into abandoned castles in Ireland, just to name a few - always documenting the fun (and mischief) along the way.

Tom's faith was the cornerstone of his life. He began each day with his Bible, sending daily encouragements to his care team at MD Anderson, his children, and anyone in need of hope. Just two weeks after major lung surgery, he sang in his beloved Westwood church choir.

Tom's booming voice and even louder laugh were signature traits so when vocal cord paralysis took his voice in recent months, the silence was deeply felt. He faced his final stretch, marked by one medical challenge after another, with grace, gratitude, and courage. Never once did Tom complain about his condition or the painful side effects of treatment.

Tom is survived by his wife, Colleen; children Tommy, Jack, and Annie; daughter-in-law Rylie; son-in-law Stephen Michael; grandchildren Olivia and Shepard; and his beloved brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rod and Marjorie Steward.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 1, at Westwood Community Church in Chanhassen. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., with the memorial service at 11 a.m., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, a cause Tom supported for many years.

We miss Tom's larger-than-life presence but find peace in knowing he is now pain-free, has regained his voice, and is in the presence of the Lord he loved so deeply.