Thomas J. Schoonhoven, age 54, of Brookings, died Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at the Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Memorial services will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 5, 2010, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Thomas Joel Schoonhoven was born September 11, 1956, at Pipestone, Minnesota, to Henry and Nesta (Vander Wilt) Schoonhoven. He attended Verdi Public School and graduated from Verdi High School in 1974.

Thomas attended Moorhead State University from 1974 to 1975. He later received his Bachelor of Science Degree at South Dakota State University. Thomas was co-owner of Jackrabbit Landscaping from 1990 to 1994 and later worked for Malhalls Landscaping in Omaha, Nebraska. He majored in landscape architecture and received his Masters Degree in 1996 at Iowa State University. Thomas moved back to Brookings and had to retire due to ill health.

He attended Christian Reformed Church and most recently the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Thomas enjoyed gardening, reading, and woodworking.

Survivors include his mother, Nesta Schoonhoven of Brookings; four brothers: Gregory of Kemmerer, Wyoming, Todd (Lesley) of Pipestone, Minnesota, David of Kearney, Nebraska, and Daniel of Huron, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry and an infant brother.