Memorial Service for Thomas A. Prendergast, 95, of Sisseton, SD, will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 1:30 P.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton, SD with Rev. Aaron Deutsch officiating. Organist will be Michelle Greseth. Soloist will be Pat Schubert. Urn Bearer will be Debra Grandgenett. Honorary Urn Bearers will be all the Sisseton Faculty he worked with and all the students he taught and coached. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery in Sisseton, SD with military rites by Otto-Quande-Renville American Legion Post #50 and Fort Sisseton VFW Post # 3342. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Thomas Agustus Prendergast, 95, of Sisseton South Dakota died Saturday, July 31, 2021 at the Tekakwitha Living Center surrounded by his family. Tom was born September 1, 1925 in Milbank, South Dakota to Thomas and Helene (Owen) Prendergast. He and his twin brother, Harry, attended school in Milbank and Pierre graduating from Milbank High School in 1943. Both were star athletes for Milbank. Entering the Marines after graduation and serving three years in the Pacific, Tom was honorably discharged in 1946.While serving he helped his branch win the 1943 Naval Olympics. His marriage to Arline Hedman took place on September 4, 1949 and they had almost 72 years together. Graduating from Huron College, Tom earned a BA degree in history. He and his brother were standout athletes in college as well. Tom earned his Master's degree from South Dakota State University. His teaching and coaching careers began at Yale where he coached football, basketball and track. Then he moved to Lake Preston and continued to coach all three sports. Daughter Sharon was born during this time. He went on to spend six years at Sioux Falls College where he won a basketball conference championship. Son Thomas was born while the family was in Sioux Falls. The family then moved to Woodstock, Illinois and Tom became a high school athletic director. The next year he coached football at Grant Deuel High School in South Dakota. The final move was to Sisseton in 1968. He retired from teaching in May of 1991 but continued to coach until he was 87 years old. Along with teaching and coaching, Tom also kept charts for over 400 Sisseton Redmen football games and announced for Sisseton Redmen track for 42 years. Tom entered the Tekakwitha Living Center in April of 2019. Throughout his career, Tom received many awards for his service to high school athletics including Huron College Basketball Coach of the Year, South Dakota High School Activities Association Distinguished Service Award and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year finalist. Tom also was awarded five hall of fame recognitions. These include Huron University Athletic Hall of Fame, South Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Tom was a member of the Otto-Quande- Renville American Legion Post #50 of Sisseton. He was also a member and past president of the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. Anything sports and particularly Sisseton Redmen sports were Tom's passion. He also enjoyed traveling, reading, fishing and attending events his daughter was involved in. There were no strangers in his life but just friends he hadn't met yet as he could carry on a conversation with anyone.

Survivors include wife Arline of Sisseton, daughter Sharon Prendergast of Sisseton, daughter-in-law Debra Grandgenett and family of Alexandria, Minnesota, close friends the Calvin Thompson family of Sisseton, and several nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, son Thomas, brothers James and Harry and sister Mary Ellen.

Special thanks to the nurses, aides and staff of the Tekakwitha Living Center for the love, patience and care they gave to Tom during his time there.