Promoted to Glory
<> Major Tom Cisar |
On September 3, with family by his side, Major Tom Cisar was promoted to Glory from the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif. Born in Eddystone, Penn. on May 6, 1930, Tom moved as a teenager to Los Angeles, where he met The Salvation Army through the LA Youth Center. He entered training from the Los Angeles Congress Hall Corps and was commissioned in 1951 with The Ambassadors Session. As a Probationary Lieutenant, his first assignment was to assist in Spokane, Wash., where he met Doreen Goldthwaite. They wed in 1954. Other corps appointments followed in Havre and Helena, Mont., Vancouver and Bremerton, Wash., and Glendale and Santa Ana, Calif. During his 11 years in Santa Ana, the corps grew to be one of the largest and most innovative congregations in the Army. In 1977, Major Cisar was appointed divisional secretary for the Cascade Division and in 1982, general secretary for the Northern California Division. He assumed territorial responsibilities in 1984, serving as territorial property secretary and territorial community relations secretary. In 1990, he was appointed the territorial deeper life ministries/officers’ counselor. He retired in 1994 after almost 43 years of active officership. In retirement he served as corps management consultant and advisory board consultant in the Del Oro Division. Tom was well known and loved in the Western Territory. Throughout his life, his primary desire was to show the love of Jesus. Surviving Tom are his wife, Elsa (Carlson) of ten years; two children, daughter Carol Beard and son Harry Cisar; eight grandchildren, Harrison, Emma, Linnea, and Jane Cisar and Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca and Joshua Beard; and two brothers, Harry Cisar and Walter Cisar. Doreen predeceased Tom in 1990. A memorial service was held at the Tustin Ranch Corps, Calif. Commissioner Bill Luttrell brought the message and Major Eugene Anderson, from the Central Territory, led the service. Cards and messages may be sent to the family in care of Mrs. Elsa Cisar, 4732 Corona Circle, Rocklin, CA 95677.