House 1939-46 (District 61); Senate 1947-62 (District 61); Senate 1963-66 (District 62)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
7/9/1909
Birth Place:
Virginia, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
8/7/1984
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Tom
City of Residence (when first elected):
Gilbert
Occupation (when first elected):
City Assesor, Gilbert
EDUCATION
Virginia High School; Secondary; Graduate
Gilbert High School; Secondary;
Winona Teachers College; Attended College;
Virginia Junior College; Junior College/Community College;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commission;
19?? to 19??
Municipal Government:
Gilbert, Minnesota (City Assessor);
1933 to 1939
[Elected]
School Board/Administration:
Saint Louis County, Minnesota (Board of Education, Supervisor);
194? to 19??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single (when first elected); Frances Zupanich (married in 1942; she died on November 24, 1982)
Children:
Seven children: Mary Margaret, Jean, Elizabeth, Paula, Janet, and Joanne (daughters, one was mentally handicapped); Thomas M. (he died in 1944, while his dad was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was of Croatian ancestry.
He was one of ten children.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a Liberal.
"Vukelich, a liberal DFL labor supporter..." (Obituary, Duluth News-Tribune and Herald, August 9, 1984)
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Moose.
He died from lung cancer and the failure of vital organs at the Virginia Regional Medical Center in Virginia, Minnesota. His funeral was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert, Minnesota. He was buried in the Gilbert Cemetery in Minnesota.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1965-66.