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THOMAS BAUM Obituary

Thomas Baum, "Tom", a lifelong resident of Des Plaines, a professional drag racer, died suddenly of a heart attack on Oct. 27, 2009. Son of the late James and Cecilia Baum; loving brother of Richard J. (Bonnie) Baum Sr.; dearest uncle of Teri (Frank) Sellars, William (Mary Ellen) Baum, Michael (Tobin) Baum and Richard J. Baum Jr.; proud great-uncle of Cecilia and Diane Sellars, Rose and Robbie Baum and Kristian Baum; dear cousin and friend to many. For many years, "The Bomber" ran "The Xicutioner" a blown alcohol dragster. Tom's many friends and fans in drag racing will miss his spontaneous wit, his unique passion for the sport and his enduring friendship. Visitation Friday, 3 to 9 p.m. at the Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. (Rt. 14/ Northwest Hwy. at Rand Rd.), Des Plaines. Service will be held Saturday, at 9:15 a.m. Interment All Saints Cemetery. For further info and directions call 847-824-5155

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Tribune on Oct. 29, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for THOMAS BAUM

Not sure what to say?





Bea Garity-Stephens

March 21, 2022

Tom, I'll always be in love with you. RIP 'til we meet again.

October 29, 2010

Still difficult to accept you are not with us in life. Although I know you are with us in spirit and hearing our love for you which will never end.
Patti

Dick Baum

October 27, 2010

One year today, Buddy Boy. I came home to learn that you were gone. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. Your brother loved you, even though I didn't always tell you.

Dick

Nachiko Holzhauer

October 27, 2010

GODSPEED, TOM!

nachiko holzhauer

September 18, 2010

68 annual rings on your BAUMkuchen...hope it tastes even better than Lutz's, Tom!


Click here: God Be with You till We Meet Again
God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Nachiko Holzhauer

September 4, 2010

As William Penn said,

And this is the Comfort of the Good,
that the Grave cannot hold them,
and that they live as soon as they die.

For Death is no more than a Turning of us over
from Time to Eternity.

Nor can there be a Revolution without it;
for it supposes the Dissolution of one form,
in order to the Succession of another.

Death then, being the Way and Condition of Life,
we cannot love to live,
if we cannot bear to die.

They that love beyond the World,
cannot be separated by it.

Death cannot kill, what never dies.

Nor can Spirits ever be divided
that love and live in the same Divine Principle;
the Root and Record of their Friendship.

If Absence be not death, neither is theirs.

Death is but Crossing the World,
as Friends do the Seas;
They live in one another still.

For they must needs be present,
that love and live in that which is Omnipresent.

In this Divine Glass,
they see Face to Face;
and their Converse is Free, as well as Pure.

This is the Comfort of Friends,
that though they may be said to Die,
yet their Friendship and Society are, in the best Sense,
ever present, because Immortal.


68 candles for TOM Saturday, 18 October 2010.

Sandy Weston

November 28, 2009

A month has passed and we still talk and think about you on a daily basis. When the phone rings, the caller ID goes up on our screen on the tv, and it is just weird not to see your name up there, or how all four of said that we will not delete your phone number on our cell phones or house number. Marty and I are trying to work past the pain still daily, but, Zach and Sarah are still having a difficult time doing this. Sarah's birthday just passed on Thanksgiving and was upset because she knew that she wasn't going to get that HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO call! We do have a funny moment though! A few weeks ago, we were at Baumers (I think there had to be at least 30 people there that day) and Sarah and I were in the garage and she said Mom, Baumer was supposed to sell my Spirit (horse) sheet at the flea market, not cover his engine with it! And then she saw this motorized truck that she wanted, and I told her, that was Zach's that Baumer was supposed to sell, not for us to take back home. Guess what? She has it on her shelf in her room with Baumers picture above it. I could sit here for hours tell stories about Tom, but, so could everyone else. I think everyone lost a man that was kind, gentle and extremely smart. This man taught everyone a lesson that no matter where you come from or what you do, friendship was extremely important to him and to live each day to the fullest.

We miss you so much,

Marty, Sandy, Zachary & Sarah

Mike Tritle

November 16, 2009

Several weeks have gone by since you left us for your new career but you still bring a smile to my thoughts each and every day, Bomber. I am blessed to have known you here.

Rick Baum,

November 15, 2009

My Uncle, Tom "The Bomber" Baum, was as passionate as they come. As TJ Zizzo said at his funeral, "Tom used to smile so big and wave so much after a run...even after he lost....that everyone in the crowd thought he won!" Tom was so proud of his accomplishments, as seen by how he memorialized statistics in scrapbooks even if they were not of the highest caliber. To him, he was just happy to play the game. Tom is a great example to me to be thankful for what I have, and to make the most out of it. Don't set my expectations too high. As his friend Timmy told me, he always said, "Just make a small amount of progress each day." Tom even had an entire lifestyle named after him, "The Tom Baum Lifestyle." Tom, you were a role-model to role models. I was always so proud whenever I knew you were coming over. I miss you, but you live on through the impact you've made on so many, including me. Even after you've passed away you've taught me an extremely valuable lesson about what's important in life. Friendship, support, encouragement. Just thinking about you relieves the stress and burden of trying to be "number one." So many people don't even participate, and that's what you focused on. I hope I can create a "garage" filled with my passion for music, as you did with cars and racing. When I do, your picture will be on the wall. I love you.

Mikey A & the Bomber, at Joliet-2007

Mike Alberts

November 6, 2009

The Bomber.
You were the funniest,craziest,wildest guy i ever new. What a story teller you were, you always had us laughing our butts off with one of your on the road stories, and you always had the right thing to say, at the right time.
Tom we all know that you had a bad heart, and only had 18% of it left for the last 6 years, Most people would have sat around and gave up ! Not Tom he was Building a c-cab Truck for the show circuit, until the day passed away. Tom you will be sorely missed by me and my family, and a cast of thousand's in the motorsport industry.
God Bless you Bomber.

Denis Lane

November 1, 2009

Tom Baum
I only got to know you briefly over the last few years when I came on vacation from Ireland.
You were always a good friend and neighbour to my brother Francis his wife Agatha and their family.
I looked forward to the full tour of your garage on my visit checking out the projects you were working on and getting the full history on each.
I was always fascinated by the items you had collected for your up and coming garage sale.
Denis Lane & Family
Shanagolden,
Ireland.

Slán agus beannacht leat

Brian Bell

October 30, 2009

Tom, Thanks for the memories. Your advice good or bad was always valuable. You will always be remembered and missed in this sport. It was an honor to be your friend.

Rich Pauza

October 30, 2009

Another sad reason to remember 2009.

Knew the man for at least 30 years.

He ( Found ) my first Dragster for me - And was the first guy to let me wrench on a Blown Hemi.

I did not always agree with some of the things Bomber said & did - And Im sure He did not aways agree with things I said & did.

That being what it is, I will say this,

When ever I try to put things in perspective or Maybe see things wearing somebody else's shoes I aways think of my favorite saying.

Do the best job you can with the resorce's available to you. - If that's what your doing, your allright with me.

NOBODY I know lived that statement better than the Bomb.

If you did a Big Screen documentory on all the things this guy did, tryed to do & sometimes got away with - Nobody would believe 80% of it - But I can tell ya - the tales were most likly true.

Rest In Peace Bomber

I will never forget you

Toot - Ah - Loo
--------------------
RICH PAUZA

Chris & Kristin Andrews

October 30, 2009

Hey old man, you know that Chris and I will truly miss you. We talk about all the great times at the Grove,racing with Zizzo and everybody else. You taught us so much. We also had so many laughs just driving from track to track. We know that you'll have buddy on your shoulder again. "Toot-O-Loo sonny boy!
Love always The fat kid and Kristin

Francis Lane

October 30, 2009

Tom you will be missed and i'll never forget you.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind
of battle."
Rest in peace Tom.
The Lane Family. Des Plaines and Ireland.

LaCerba Matt

October 30, 2009

Tom you will be missed and i'll never forget you, lets face it how could I. I have lots of graet memories of being on your pit crow, and being one of your frends. "keep a cool tool in the motor pool" "TU DA LU" bomber

Janet Greenwald

October 29, 2009

My deepest sympathy to all of the family and friends of our dear friend Tom. He was wonderfully unique in spirit, kind man and had the unique art of expressing his quick wittiness. He will be sadly missed by all. One of a kind he was and his "tootalu" will always ring in memory. God Bless you Tom.

At Great Lakes Dragaway , his home track

October 29, 2009

Tom sharing his stories with Bret Kepner

October 29, 2009

one of the Infamous Burnouts

October 29, 2009

Always smiling , fans loved ya...

Mark & Laura Bruederle

October 29, 2009

Never a dull moment with you Bomber... never a loss for words.
Always made us laugh with all your stories or antics, (i.e. tool box falling out of the back of the tow truck) We also looked forward to hearing from you, just catch up, and bench race once again. Thanks for the memories. God Speed
The Bruederle Family

Amy Wojdak

October 29, 2009

Tom, I had the pleasure of meeting you at the drag strip with my best friends Bill & Mary Baum. I remember your great sense of humor, quick wit and friendliness. It was very exciting to watch you race on the track and to be in the pits. You will be missed by so many people and you join my brother Tom Powell, another car guy in Heaven. Rest in peace fine Sir.

Sandy Weston

October 29, 2009

Tom, our famililes hearts are completed broken. You were a father figure to Marty and his very best friend. Our kids could never get enough Baumer stories. Marty will never ever forget all the great times they you two had from racing to just hanging out in the garage. You always had the quick comebacks. I believe our Sarah always gave you a run for your money with the comebacks. When Marty and you started taking Zach with you on your famous Indy trips, Zach always came back with stories. I remember one time specifically that you called me from the hotel to tell me that Zach was a remote hog (just like you). We will keep all our loving memories in our hearts and the great times you gave to us. This is the day that I never wanted to come, because, you are truly Marty's best friend that he ever had and you will always be family to us. I know we all meet again, but, keep them laughing in heaven, and we will keep smiling down here knowing you will always be watching over us. I could go on forever, but, there is just to much to say, so, for now, tootaloo buddy!

We love you,

Marty, Sandy, Zachary & Sarah Weston

October 29, 2009

Just wanted to say that I'm really gonna miss the Bomber. a good friend and motivater to those whose car projects occasionally slip off the front burner, never one to let you forget your last stupid mistake or embarrassing moment you'd rather never again share, saving it for that perfect moment among friends, maybe one of my feeble attempts at busting HIS chops, but always in good fun. Tom will be remembered as an approachable guy, who was never at a loss to offer advice on whatever it was you had going. He was a mentor to many young neighborhood kids and hotrodders, frequently inspiring me to get back in my garage and do something, anything, on one of my car projects, keep making progress, however small, no matter what the odds against, and make do with what you had at hand. TOOT-A-LOO old buddy, keep a cool tool in the motorpool!!! Here's a massive, smoky, half-track burnout of gratitude for just being there, and doing it your way. And last, Bomber should get a Lifetime Achievement Award from Coca Cola for personal consumption of their product. -Tim Brown

Janice Hennigan

October 29, 2009

Tom, you were a good neighbor to all of us, but your friendship was one of the things that kept me together many a time. All the hours you listened to my problems and you were always on my side. Thank you. Also the laughs, the good times we had, we should have had more of that. Thank you for being there for my Kathy all these years when she needed someone too. I don't think I ever told you what a great guy you were. Tom, your a great guy and I will never forget you. I was fortunate to have you in my life. God bless you Tom.

William L. Knuth

October 29, 2009

Tom Baum "The Bomber" was a dear friend that had done alot for me. I had heard of him from my father and all of the drag racing buddies he had many of years, but was able to only know him in person for two years. As the day went by and my mind was racing about "the Bomber" I was closer and closer to crying through school. As I seen one of my gear head buddies in the hall after the 4th period Italian had been released from class, who had the chance to meet him once and get a signed autogragh, I had toled him what had happened to "Bomber" the day before. Once the discusion was over we stood there with a minute of silence thinking about the speeding man at the drag strip burning the tires, shifting gears and deploying a parachute. Tom Baum was a man that was under the influince of cars and drag racing, a man that had an extreme passion for the sport he once used to do, I would hear him say "Will, I'm sorry but don't show up for work tomarrow, because I'm going to the drag strip" The day after he had gone to the strip I would come back to work and he would tell me all about the races and how good they where. Then we would proceed into going back to work. The last day I had seen him was the day he would see me for the last time. He had seen that I had died my hair blond and then joked about it. There is more that I could say about "The Bomber" but I think that there is only limited space.

Tom old buddie, it was a one hell of a race while being with you, I'll miss you and those "Old Time Jokes", One day I'll be able to see you agian, may our lord be with you. I'll be there the day you are put to rest old friend, because I know that you would do the same for me.

Patty Contreras

October 29, 2009

Tom, you were a great neighbor with a wonderful heart and will always be missed. I won't ever forget your huge yard sale signs.

Pat Klebba

October 29, 2009

Tommy, my old friend and dancing partner. You certainly did it your way and never lost your spirit or humor. Thanks for all your warmth, laughs, memories and especially for always being Tommy. I get a warmth and smile thinking about you and the fun we had. You are missed.

Mike Tritle

October 29, 2009

Upon hearing the news of his passing my first recollection was of him rummaging through a trash can at "Da Grove" to retrieve a blower belt that Al Dapozzo had tossed just a couple minutes previous. His comment as he looked over at me was, "This thing's got at least 2 or 3 more runs in it!"

Rest in Peace, Bomber, your racing on God's team with Al and an unlimited budget, winning every round and setting records with each pass!

October 29, 2009

Tom, you were quite a guy and close neighbor! You always paid a visit whenever I had a new baby and my third baby turned out to be your little "car buddy" whom you taught stuff to in your garage as he grew up. I'll always remember you as a funny, yet profound guy in your own way.

I was about to call you this week to ask if you were going to the Maine West 50th Anniversary bash on Nov. 7-8. Guess you'll be there in spirit now.

May the Lord give you rest, Tom You've joined my brother John (another total car guy who left us too soon) a couple of weeks ago. You touched many lives.

Marianne Yonus Olson (Orchard Place '56 -- Maine West '60

BILLY KNUTH

October 29, 2009

THE BOMBER was one of a kind and will never be forgotten.TOOTALU OLD BUDDY

billy knuth

October 29, 2009

THE BOMBER was the best and I will never forget you. Tootalu old buddy. He was a DEAR friend to all who knew him

Showing 1 - 32 of 32 results

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