Thomas Markle Obituary Thomas V. Markle of Wayzata, MN was born in Hazelton, PA on May 12, 1920. He died on March 22, 2014 at the age of 93. Preceding him in death were his beloved wife Barbara of Danville, PA, his father and mother, Alvan and Gladys Markle, and his brother George B. Markle, IV. Surviving are his brother, Alvan Markle III of Bryn Mawr, PA and his sister Marian Pool of Pocono Lake Preserve, PA, daughters Barbara Polk of Louisville, CO, Judy Pool (Tom) of Denver, CO, Peter Markle (Melinda) of Santa Monica, CA. His is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Markle was educated at the Fay School, Southboro, MA, the Hill School, Pottstown, PA and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. He left the University and enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. In World War II, Lieutenant Markle served at Naval Air Stations in New Orleans and Minneapolis as a flight instructor, then as fighter director and Combat Information Center officer on the aircraft carrier USS Bataan and the destroyer USS Hank, both with the fast carrier task force in the western Pacific. He saw considerable action as it was near the end of the war as kamikaze missions were at their peak. During one attack 11 cadets were thrown off a nearby ship and Markle had the presence of mind to mark the spot on the DRT chart. He convinced the bridge to turn back, which they did four hours later. They found all cadets in their lifeboats surrounded by sharks at 2am. Markles carrier, The Bataan, was next to the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945, from which he witnessed the Japanese surrender. Markle continued to fly owning several single engine planes over the years which he shared with Angus Morrison, who was in the same task force in the Pacific. Markle was one of the best amateur golfers in the city, winning club championships and maintaining a single digit handicap well into his 70s. His banking career began in 1934 with summer jobs for 6 years at Markle Bank and Trust Company in Hazelton, Pa. After WWII he rejoined the bank for 7 years before moving to Minneapolis and becoming vice president and treasurer of the First Bank Stock Corporation (now US Bancorp). In 1968 he moved Chicago as president and CEO of the Beverly Bank and for its holding company of 9 other banks. In 1975 he became president of First Chicago Data Corp, an affiliate of the First National Bank of Chicago. In 1977 he returned to Minneapolis to join Norwest Corp (now Wells Fargo). He was a council member and Deputy Mayor of Minnetonka Beach, member of the Lake Minnetonka Cable Commission, president of Woodhill Country Club, president of Waycliffe Town Home Association. He was secretary of the Fox and Hounds breakfast club for 25 years which meets each week and features notable guest speakers. He co-founded the Edina-Morningside Junior Hockey Association, which in 3 years grew from no youth players to over 500. When he saw a need he fulfilled it with great dedication and success. It was the paradigm with which he led his life. He loved all games, particularly bridge and backgammon. He loved music, and especially opera. He and his wife attended the inaugural play at the Guthrie and were members for over 30 years. He was interested in everyone, was a great listener and was rewarded with an expansive network of friends. He was loved dearly by his family and will be missed, but his memory will never leave us. In lieu of flowers, memorials are referred to Greenhouse Scholars, 1881 9th Street, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80302 A service to celebrate his life will be held at the Plymouth Congregational Church on Saturday, March 29th, at 11:00am. The church is located at 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403.