Photo courtesy of Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory - Ballwin
Ballwin, Missouri
Mar 20, 1945 – Mar 29, 2025
With heavy hearts, we announce that Thomas (Tom) Michael Fleming, age 80, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025. He is survived by his wife Merilynn (nee Mitchell); his children Todd Fleming and Robyn Henry (Josh) and his grandchildren Summer and Hannah; his siblings Jim Fleming, Kathy Kirkpatrick and Jan Lee; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law and 9 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his brother Larry Fleming.
After graduating from DuBourg High School in 1963, Tom attended Southwest Missouri State where he received a BS in Marketing and Psychology. Tom took that knowledge to IBM were he worked in sales and sales management. Sensing a trend in the industry, Tom left IBM in 1972 to start his own company selling supply products for IBM equipment. His vision and foresight positioned him as a pioneer and serial entrepreneur in the industry as he started his business. Over 50 years, Tom established several companies over his career creating change within the industry operating as-ABM, ABM Federal, Supplies Network and eventually Distribution Management Inc.
After moving his company to the Chesterfield Valley in 1978 he became committed to the growth of the region. As a Co-founder of Chesterfield Civic Progress, a member of Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chesterfield Community Development Authority, Tom was committed to the growth of Chesterfield Valley and was instrumental in its rebuilding after the flood of 1993.
In his free time, Tom loved spending time with family and friends at his lake house fishing, and at his farm hunting quail with his beloved dogs by his side.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Schrader Funeral Home, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin MO 63011, on Friday, April 25th from 4-7pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Tom to Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis or the Humane Society of Missouri. Please share memories of Tom and condolences with the family in the online guest book at Schrader.com
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May Tom rest in peace
He was a kind man and friend to many of us in St.Louis♥
Guy and Willie Busch
July 18, 2025 | Bellaire, MI | Friend
I was a vendor supplier of Memorex and IBM products to Tom's company. He was an honest, welcoming and a straight shooter. I respected him more then any customer I had in 40 years in the supplies business. Rest in peace, Tom. Mike Brenegan
Michael Brenegan
May 05, 2025 | Apple Valley, MN
I have sweet memories of "Tommy" from our childhood... He was my cousin, as well as my classmate at St. Michael's grade school. Tom 's family and mine lived on Devonshire in Shrewsbury back in the fifties! My late brother, John, and Tom were very good friends, bonded by their mutual love of horses. I recall Tom's devotion to John when my brother suffered long term illness from cancer. Tom was loyal and compassionate...always.
My heartfelt sympathy is extended to all Tom's beloved...
Mary Mary Mitchell
April 30, 2025 | Huntsville, AL
To Tom's family I extend my heartfelt sympathy...While I didn't know Tom all that well, he was a friend of my sister, Lois Jean Holman, who went to St Elizabeth's in Crestwood, and then to Bishop DuBourg High School with him. They were friends thru the years with Bill Woeger (now Brother Bill), Sally Roy, & Margie Elders. My sister was 7 years older than I, so what memories I have of their friendship is...they were supportive of one another and were True friends ...all of them as a group. My...
Lee (Holman) Freeman-Rung
April 28, 2025 | Other
I truly believed Tom fleming was one of the people who would live forever. From our first meeting when we became neighbors, we knew we had hit the jackpot. Tom and Mitch were the best neighbors: insisting we have the "snow party" the first time we ran off the road in the neighborhood; riding around with drinks in our four wheelers; letting my kids have little jobs to learn responsibility; helping support my son Cole with his eagle scout project; being their first trick or treaters and...
Lori Aston
April 26, 2025 | St Louis, MO | Friend
Tom is one of my mentors. In addition to kindness and generosity he was a brilliant businessman. One of his rare skills was assessing his own strengths and those of others. He recognized that his creativity and leadership would blossom if he partnered with Jack Easterling. Together they transformed “Good to Great”. It’s gratifying to see Sean and his team prosper now.
Tom donated his business acumen to the City of Chesterfield in 1993 when the flood devastated us. He spent...
Michael Flavin
April 25, 2025 | Chesterfield, MO | Friend
Tom was an amazing, remarkable man and a great role model. Tom gave me my very first job as an intern at DM, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that. It was an exciting and formative experience, and I learned so much from it. I also have such fond memories of taking care of his wonderful pets over the years while growing up in the neighborhood. I will miss Tom deeply and am keeping Tom and his family in my prayers.
Cole Aston
April 25, 2025 | St. Louis, MO | Neighbor
Tom was a very kind and welcoming man. I am blessed to have known him. My thoughts and prayers to his lovely wife Mitchell, smiling son Todd, and other family members.
Margaret Cassell Zambrana
April 23, 2025
Tom!
What can I say? We played some great baseball & basketball in grade and high school. Lots of great memories! Glad we got to hunt together. You went on to become an exceptional professional businessman, husband, and raised an outstanding family. You did it all!!
You will be missed.
Jimbo Reynolds
James Reynolds
April 20, 2025 | Emerald Hills, CA | Friend