- Date Of Birth: September 17, 1934
- Date Of Death: July 2, 2016
- State: Iowa
As a very active child whose 2nd grade teacher tied him to his school desk, he naturally gravitated to sports and excelled in athletics. Athleticism was also a family tradition he felt he had to uphold. In his senior year he was captain of the Manson Eagles football team. He also served on the student council. He graduated in 1954.
Following graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Norma Peters on June 6, 1954. At that time he was still working for his father’s produce business picking up eggs and culling chickens from area farmers. He never lost his love of driving through the Iowa countryside.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps & served from August 1956 until August 1958. He was a sharpshooter and excelled on the obstacle course. He managed a supply house at Camp Pendleton. Serving was a formative experience where he learned organizational skills he put to use his whole working life. He discharged as a corporal and he and his little family returned to Iowa.
Next he worked for Iowa Beauty and Barber Supply as a salesman from 1958 to 1976. He moved his growing family from Ottumwa to Chariton in 1960. He learned to play tennis in the 1960’s. This led to an active involvement with the Chariton Board of Parks and Recreation.
Tom and Norma built and opened a supper club, The Blue Grass Inn in Chariton on Sept. 24, 1970. He closed the restaurant on Feb. 15, 2000. Being open for many years, the place became part of the social fabric of the area. Tom wished to thank all those who worked for him over the years and all the loyal patrons he and Norma became friendly with. Without hard working staff and loyal customers their supper club wouldn’t have been the success it was.
During his retirement he enjoyed fishing at his farm ponds with his brother Steve and traveling with friend Miriam Bower. Reading history books of all kinds and discussing them with his children and Steve remained a lifelong passion. He was proud of all 5 grandchildren and delighted by his great granddaughter 2 year old Emilia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jacqueline and brother John.
He will be remembered by his survivors as a passionate determined man with a temper as quick as his wit and a generous heart.
