Thomas C. Gerstenberg Jr.

Thomas C. Gerstenberg Jr. (Ponytail), age 54, of Hatton, died Friday, February 21, 2025, in Grand Forks, surrounded by the love and care of his mother after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

A family directed Celebration of Life will be held 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Triple VVV in Buxton, North Dakota. Burial will take place at the Huntley Cemetery in Middle River, Minnesota at a later date.

Thomas Charles Gerstenberg Jr. was born January 31, 1971, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Thomas and Joyce (Passa) Gerstenberg Sr. He grew up in Hellertown, Pennsylvania until 1988, when he moved to North Dakota. Thomas graduated from Thompson High School in 1989, he went on to complete vocational education and training in plumbing. Thomas worked in plumbing and carpentry in Phoenix, Arizona. In July 1997, he was united in marriage to Lori Ramstad; they later divorced. Thomas returned to Hatton, North Dakota, and owned Triple VVV bar. In June 2019, Thomas was united in marriage to Megan Tronson in Fargo. Together they were blessed with a daughter, Isabel.

Thomas had a true passion for cars and drag racing, with some of his most cherished memories coming from a trip to Arizona with his brother, Joey, to experience the excitement of the test-and-tune drag strip and a trip to Florida Keys. He loved spending time at casinos and sharing countless stories with his family and friends. His infectious humor and storytelling ability always filled the room with joy and will be deeply missed.

Thomas is survived by his daughter, Isabel Gerstenberg; mother, Joyce Gerstenberg Rud; sister, Gina (Mark) Adams; brother, Joseph Rud; niece, Madelyn Adams; uncle, Charles (Kathy) Passa; aunt, Gayle (Dennis) Siewert; and cousins, Samantha, Charles, Brian, and Robert Passa; Aaron and Jason Siewert and Beth Ann, Christine, Louise, Robert and Ricky Gerstenberg. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Gerstenberg Sr.; stepfather, Ernest Rud; uncle, Brian Passa; uncle Leroy Passa; uncle and aunt David and Nancy Gerstenberg and grandparents, Andrew and Ann Passa, and Edward and Helen Gerstenberg. He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Gerstenberg Sr.; stepfather, Ernest Rud; uncle, Brian Passa; uncle Leroy Passa; uncle and aunt David and Nancy Gerstenberg and grandparents, Andrew and Ann Passa, and Edward and Helen Gerstenberg.