Tom, 85, died April 3, 2023, in Green Cove Springs, Florida. He was born May 22, 1937, in the Town of Lake, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended A.E. Burdick Elementary School and Racine Lutheran High School. Tom played the cornet and was a member of the "Three Tom Trio". He participated in Burdick's award-winning marching band, along with his sister, Barbara.

Tom graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Wildlife Management. He rookied in 1960 and jumped at Grangeville 1960 and 1963. He jumped the 1964-65 seasons at Missoula.

Tom graduated from aviation school and served in the U.S. Army, based in Alabama and Germany, and earned the rank of First Lieutenant. Following his military service, Tom joined United Airlines, where he retired after 31 years of employment as a navigator and commercial pilot. Tom had a life-long love of flying and always kept his private Cessna hangered nearby, whether he was residing at his log home in northern Wisconsin or the many years he lived in Washington and Idaho.