Tom died June 19, 1992 in Waukesha, Wisconsin at the age of 77. He was born in Butler, Wisconsin, November 10, 1914. In 1940 he registered for the draft while he was a forestry student at the University in Missoula.

In 1942 he made one fire jump before being called to active duty with the Army. He was on of the Army ski troops and served eight months in the European theater before returning to Wisconsin to resume his life. He is buried at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield, Wisconsin.