Thomas J. Stees D.O.

1939 - 2022

Thomas J. Stees, D.O.

Thomas J. Stees, D.O., FACOI, physician, educator, innovator, and Panera Bread franchisee, passed from this life peacefully on Sunday June 5, 2022, after a lengthy illness. He was born on April 8, 1939, in Wichita, Kansas, the second of four children to Dr. Charles and Ione Harris Stees.

His formative years were spent at Woodland Elementary and John Marshall Junior High. He graduated from Wichita High School North in 1957. Many years later he could still do the "War Cry," their famous drum beat song. Tom attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, where he met and married the love of his life for 61 years, Carolyn Sue Thompson.

He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1966. For the next four years he and Sue resided in Tulsa where Dr. Stees completed an internship and internal medicine residency at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital and where their two daughters, Rebecca and Laura were born.

Dr. Stees was in private practice as Medical Specialists in St. Louis, Mo. from 1971-1993. There he not only cared for patients, but also helped train students, interns, and residents. In 1993 he and Sue returned to Tulsa where Dr. Stees was Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He continued to serve as a teacher and mentor to young doctors. He left his mark on so many physicians.

During his practice career he received numerous awards and recognitions. Most important to him would be the Award of Excellence by the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association; the first Internist of the Year by the American College of Osteopathic Internists; Lifetime Achievement Award by the Des Peres Hospital, St. Louis; and most recently the Staab Legacy Award for Excellence by Oklahoma State University.

He always had an academic curiosity. Seeing the needs, he developed programs in nutritional support and vascular evaluation in St. Louis and was the innovator for the Wound Care and Ryan White clinics at OSU.

Late in his medical career he had an opportunity to further his entrepreneurial spirit by becoming the first franchisee of the St. Louis Bread/Panera Bread Company in 1993 with his wife Sue, sister and brother-in-law, Gaynell and Jim Magers. Their franchise, Traditional Bakery, Inc. came to Tulsa in 1997.

In retirement he got to further pursue his other passions: gardening, reading, investing, and watching the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals. He was a life-long learner and enjoyed being a Master Gardener. "Dr. Tom," as he was known to the Panera family, was much loved and the employees knew he cared about both their professional and personal development. He also served on various boards in retirement: Big Brothers, Iron Gate, Tulsa Botanic Garden, Tulsa Garden Center, Osteopathic Founders Foundation and as a deacon at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.

"Dr. Tom" was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles and sister Karen Hall. He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughters Rebecca Stees of Alameda, CA, and Laura (Tommy) Alvidrez of Portland, OR., his sister Gaynell (Jim) Magers of Bend, OR, sisters-in-law Shirley Stees of Wichita, KS., Joan Thompson of Maple Grove, MN. Many nephews and nieces will miss him: Kevin Stees, Danielle Magers, Kerry White, Janan Fairman, Kim Pichler, Brian, Barry, and Bruce Thompson as well as their spouses and children and a myriad of life-long friends and colleagues. Thank you to his wonderful caregivers over the past six years.

In the spirit of continuing to train young physicians, Dr. Stees donated his body to the Body Donor Program at OSU-CHS. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday July 16, 2022, at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4102 E, 61st Street, Tulsa, OK. 74136.

In lieu of flowers a donation in Dr. Stees' memory may be made to Osteopathic Founders Foundation, 8801 South Yale, Suite 400, Tulsa, OK. 74137, the Tulsa Botanic Garden, or Kirk of the Hills in Tulsa.