Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021
Thomas Archer
Thomas E. Archer, beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away at the age of 64 on Sunday, March 8, 2020.
He was born on November 2, 1955, to Robert Archer, who survives in Celina and the late Anna (Tangeman) Archer.
Tom was preceded in death by his life partner, John Burke.
Tom is survived by his father, Robert Archer of Celina; his sisters: Sharon Archer of Mendon, Diane (Cheryl) Archer-Welker of Celina, Linda (Doug) Krieger of Carbon, Alberta Canada; his brothers: John (Mary Lou) Archer of Rockford and Jerry (Shelly) Archer of Celina; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great-great nephews, great-great nieces, his extended family, and many friends and neighbors who were like family to him.
He was greeted in heaven by his partner, John Burke, his mother, Anna Archer, and his 3-day old baby sister, Mary Helen Archer.
Tom graduated from Celina Senior High School, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary & Special Education from Wright State University in Dayton, and his Master's Degree in Reading Specialist from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri. Tom received one of the highest and respected honors of Eagle Scout from Troop 69 in Celina.
He was the Director of Youth Ministry, Northern Area Catholic Youth Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, until he moved to St. Louis. While at the Northern Area office, he created and facilitated youth retreats, monthly meetings for teens to discuss their faith, hosted a yearly faith celebration called Fall Harvest, and shared his faith with hundreds of youth throughout all of the northern counties in Ohio. Tom was the principal at St. Catherine's Laboure School in Cahokia, Illinois and at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. He served as president of Second Wind St. Louis and National Lung Transplant Associations. He was passionate about his work with Second Wind due to being a double lung transplant recipient himself, because of the generosity of his donor family.
Tom will be remembered and cherished for his gentle and generous nature, benevolence, honesty, and sense of community. He greatly appreciated life and the world around him. He was a lifelong learner and a patient teacher. He always made a lasting impression and touched the lives of every person he met.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, August 6, 2021, in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina with Fr. Kenneth Schnipke C.PP.S., officiating.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 am - 10:15 am at Cisco Funeral Home in Celina on Friday morning, prior to the mass. Interment will follow the mass at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Celina.
Memorial contributions in Tom's honor can be made to the Second Wind Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 771242, St. Louis, MO 63177.
Cisco Funeral Homes of Celina & St. Marys are honored to care for Tom and his family. To pay your respects or to leave online condolences and memories, visit www.ciscofuneralhome.com or visit the Cisco Funeral Homes Facebook page.
