Thomas Harold Klass was born September 25,1955 in Idaho to Harold and Mary Jane Klass, the fifth of eight children. He graduated from Mount Angel Seminary High School in 1973 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History at the University of Idaho in 1977. Deacon Tom received his Certificate of Diaconal Ministry from College of Saint Elizabeth in Madison, NJ and was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on June 12, 2010.

Deacon Tom spent 26 years in wholesale food distribution before joining Aetna Inc. in 1998, where he works in the broker distribution channel for Medicare Advantage products.

Often known by his nickname, “TK,” Deacon Tom has been an active member of various ministries at Saint James. He has served as a Reader, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and teacher in the parish Religious Education program. Deacon Tom has also been involved in all aspects of the Youth Ministry and is the Music Minister for the Men of Saint James.

Tom and his wife, Susan, have six children and three grandchildren. He was born into eternal life on January 15, 2022. He will be greatly missed by the entire St. James parish family.