Thomas A. Scheib, Lt. Col. USMC Ret.
Tom Scheib was born on October 1, 1940 in Pottstown PA, the first of two sons born to Ira B. and Mary Elizabeth Stauffer Scheib. He grew up in Palmerton, Pa. from second grade through high school where he played varsity football. Summers he attended Camp Miller at Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa where he served three years as director of athletics before entering the USMC Platoon Leaders Class upon graduation from LaSalle College, Phila., with a degree in mathematics education.
He served 22 ½ years in the Marine Corps retiring as Lt. Col. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam, the first as an advisor, the second as company commander of Lima Company, 3RD BN 9TH Marines in and around the DMZ for which he was awarded two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Navy Commendation Medal (with combat V). His was the lead company on the ground to break the siege of Khe Sahn.
In 1985 after retiring from the Marines he brought three reindeer from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, that he picked up in Alberta and drove to his farm in Finland MN where he started his own herd, ultimately numbering around 80. At the time, there were only two or three reindeer breeders in the continental United States. In learning how to raise them he became a co-founder of the Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association of America and served on its board many years. 1998-2010 he farmed at Milltown WI. He raised and trained his reindeer, treating each one as a treasured pet. Often he had to hand raise rejected baby reindeer in his house until they were old enough to have some resistance to disease. He showed his reindeer at festivals and parades all over the mid-west and rented animals to the Bronx Zoo and Hershey Zoo for many years. He and his reindeer did many TV commercials. His reindeer also appeared in the remake of "The Miracle on 34th Street" with his faithful bull "Eli" performing in the courtroom defense of Santa Claus.
A licensed falconer and raptor rehabilitator, he traveled for years with his Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel visiting fellow Marines.
Tom died in Florida from complications of multiple cancers on June 20, 2016. Exposure to agent orange during the war contributed to his ailments.
He is survived by son, Mark (Dina & Graham) of Duluth MN, daughter Kirstin Berntson (Wes & Grace) of Finland MN, adopted sons Kurt of Jacksonville FL and Karl (Sue Lynne, Astrid, Alex) of Valdosta, GA, brother James of Iowa City IA, nephews Christopher (Jennifer, Matthew, Jacob, Teva) of Baden PA and Eric (Sara) of Iowa City IA, Ellen Miller of Finland MN (former wife), and Liisa Mayo of Milltown WI (former wife).
Memorial contributions may be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (http://www.mcsf.org/) or The Peregrine Fund (http://www.peregrinefund.org/).
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