Thomas Joseph Peter Doyle

Thomas Joseph Peter Doyle, 77, of Colman, South Dakota, passed away on July 24, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

A funeral service will take place at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau, South Dakota. Visitation will take place from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Skroch Funeral Chapel, with a prayer service and time of sharing beginning at 6:30 PM. 

Thomas Joseph Peter Doyle was born on May 18, 1949 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Donald and Ann (Schnook) Doyle. He attended schools in Colman and Rutland and graduated from Colman High School in 1969.

Thomas served in the United States Army. During his first tour of duty, he trained as an engineer power train repairman and served in Korea along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Expert Rifle qualification.

During his second tour of duty, Thomas trained as a radio teletype operator. His military service also took him to Germany, where he served near the Czech border. During his time in the Army, Thomas achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5. His military honors included the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Korea, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and M-16 qualification.

Thomas married Vernice (Hackett) Doyle on May 4, 1974, in Colman, South Dakota. On January 27, 1975, the family began their life as a military family. Thomas was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, for radio teletype operator training, with Fort Carson, Colorado, serving as his home base. The family lived in Fountain, Colorado, and later joined Thomas while he was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, where his youngest daughter, Teresa, was born.

Thomas later received a compassionate reassignment and spent a year in Brookings, South Dakota, as an Army recruiter before finishing his military career at Fort Carson. He retired from the Army in December 1982.

Following his military service, Thomas worked at Daktronics in Brookings for 25 years, working as a painter and in the metal shop. He later retired due to a medical condition related to heart damage from his Army service.

Throughout his life Thomas enjoyed fishing, camping, mowing the lawn, watching TV game shows, and playing solitaire. In his younger years, he enjoyed restoring cars. He was also an avid Denver Broncos fan.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Vernice; daughters, Annette (Mohamed) Abusharkh of Des Moines, Iowa, and Teresa Doyle of Madison, South Dakota; sons, Tony (Christina) Doyle of Watertown, South Dakota, and Matthew Doyle of Brookings, South Dakota; grandchildren, Yasmina (Yousef), Maisa, Ameer, Laila, Marah, Terrin, Braxton, Landon, Root, and Rose; two great-grandchildren, Beckett and Tommy; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Ann (Schnook) Doyle; brother, Ron; and sisters, Kathleen, Elaine, and Martha.

Burial and military honors will take place at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 3, 2026 at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. All are welcomed to attend; the family will be leaving in procession from the funeral home at 9:00am for anyone who would like to join, you may also meet them at the cemetery if you wish.