Thomas Seidel

COLUMBUS - Thomas Seidel, 91, of Columbus, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at the Cottonwood House in Columbus.

The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus with Rev. Peter Jark-Swain officiating. Interment, with military honors by the American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard, will be in the Columbus Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday also at the church. Memorials are suggested to Columbus Hospice, Platte County Historical Society, and donor's choice.

Tom was born in Columbus, on May 1, 1919, to Henry and Elsie (Stubblefield) Seidel. He attended Columbus Schools and graduated in 1937 from Kramer High School. He went on to the University of Nebraska receiving his teaching certificate for shop and woodworking in 1941, but due to World War II was not able to actively teach. He passed on his knowledge to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Tom was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. He received many awards and earned his Eagle Scout award. Through the Boy Scouts, he learned life saving skills and was a life guard at the Columbus pool for several years.

He married Wilma Bordner in September of 1941 and they spent 64 wonderful years together. Shortly after marriage, they moved to Independence, Mo., where Tom worked at the Remington Arms Co. as shift foreman of the cartridge loading department. In October 1942, he was drafted into the US Army Air Corps in the 87th Airdrome Squadron stationed in Odessa, Texas, and worked as an aircraft armorer, and later on in Saipan and Tinian. He was discharged in February of 1946. After the service, Tom served with the Enlisted Reserve Corps of the US Air Force from 1946 to 1952.

After the service, Tom and Wilma resided in Columbus where he also worked as a carpenter for Walter L. Roth & Son, Carl Ewert, and Leo B. Woerth, doing various jobs from building homes to finishing work working for $1.50/hour.

In 1953, he became a substitute letter carrier for the Columbus Post Office which led to a full time carrier until he retired in 1984. After retirement, Tom did carpentry repair work for several antique dealers and for C-K Planing Mill.

Tom and his wife Wilma, and their family, enjoyed traveling not only when their children were at home, but also after they were married, visiting them wherever their jobs took them. Tom was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and was active in the Builders Club, was a Sunday School teacher, and was the grounds keeper for several summers. He was also a member of NARFE, the American Legion, and Eagles.

For the last three and a half years, Tom resided at Cottonwood House where he was cared for by a devoted and loving family of staff members and residents.

Tom is survived by: Son - Gary (Marlene) Seidel of Highland Village, Texas; son - Rod (Mary) Seidel of Columbus; daughter - Marilynn (Don) Reid of Round Rock, Texas; daughter - Kay (Jack) Steiner of Columbus; daughter - Pat Cuda of Schuyler; grandchildren - Thomas Seidel, Adam (Tamara) Reid, Amy (Casey) Weaver, Julie (Tom) Pearson, Jeff (Audra) Steiner, Becky (fiancé Kris Taylor) Seidel, Lloyd (fiancée Jill Runde) Cuda, Lynne Cuda, and Laura Cuda; great-grandchildren - Nicholas, Madison, and Allyssa Jo Steiner, Madeleine Reid, and Rease Pearson; and his family and friends of Cottonwood House.

Tom was preceded in death by: Parents - Henry and Elsie Seidel; wife - Wilma Seidel; daughter - Linda Seidel; son-in-law - Ken Cuda; daughter-in-law - Pauline Seidel; brothers - Don, Robert, and Ray Seidel; sister - Marcia Gue.

Condolences may be sent to www.gasshaney.com.