Thomas William Kerker was the second child of Thomas Dagobert Kerker and Sophie Anne Jensen. He was born in St Paul, Minnesota, in 1914, and attended Cretin High School and the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in civil engineering.
He served as an officer in World War II and married Lois Martha Bicknese from Pierre, South Dakota. They had two daughters:
Tom was a brilliant man, and was known for his lively and dry sense of humor. He lived in a condo in Westminster the last several years of his life. He died in June, 1993.