Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

Chester Edwan Thomas, 80, of Wright passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Moose Lake Village. He was born on July 30, 1942, in Minneapolis to Clarence and Georgia Thomas. Chester graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1960. He married Kathleen Tabako on Sept. 18, 1965.

Chester served in the Army. He was an ironworker for the Local 512 in Minneapolis from 1962 to 1979, when he became an entrepreneur and opened the Vegas Lounge & Restaurant in northeast Minneapolis.

Chester loved spending time with his family and taking vacations to special places, including Mexico and Europe. He enjoyed coin collecting, bowling, fishing, and hunting. He was an avid Lions Club member for many years. Chester was a pool league manager for Kalli's Place and in the golfing league at the Lookout Bar and Grill.

Chester loved his family and his nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He will be missed by his wife, Kathleen; brother, Charles (Nancy) Thomas; sons, Timothy (Rayanne) and Edward (Stephanie); daughter, Melissa Jo (Jeremy) Daniels; grandchildren, Rachael, Megan, Sidney, Donovan, Zachary (Emma), Jacob, Sam, Sophie and Tyler; and numerous nieces, nephews.

Funeral services were held on Nov. 4 at St. Mary and Joseph's Catholic Church in Sawyer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association at 7900 W. 78th St. Suite 100, Edina, MN 55439.

Burial will be at a later date. A Celebration of Life will be announced, and held at the Lookout Bar and Grill in Maple Grove. Arrangements by Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and leave an online tribute, see http://www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com

Pine Knot News, Nov. 18, 2022