Thomas Richardson

Thomas Joe (Tom) Richardson, age 83, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025 at 4:16 am, in Springfield, Missouri, after a long illness.

Tom was born in Lafayette, Indiana on December 20, 1941. He was the last born, and until his passing, the final surviving child of Kenneth F. Richardson and Juanita (Kellar) Richardson following his older siblings: Patricia (Richardson) Messman, Connie (Richardson) Ekola, Peggy (Richardson) Rowe, and Donald Richardson.

Tom was a graduate of Jefferson High School, Lafayette, and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. While in high school, Tom was very athletic, participating in basketball, football, track, gymnastics, cheerleading and wrestling.

Tom married the love of his life, the former Nancy Lee Burke on May 4, 1963, in Lafayette. After marriage and while starting a family, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Recreation from Purdue. Using that knowledge and his experience working at the Lafayette YMCA and the Community Center of Lafayette, he co-founded the Boys' Club of Tippecanoe County, becoming its first Executive Director where he remained until 1978. He continued with Boys & Girls Clubs of America in similar positions in Decatur, Illinois and Springfield, Missouri. His career spanned decades of leadership and service in nonprofit organizations including Boys Town USA. He was also an active member of Sertoma and the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield Alumni Association. Tom took early retirement from his position as a maintenance worker for the City of Springfield and Springfield Airport to become the sole caregiver for his wife until her passing in 2013. In his retirement, Tom worked part-time as greeter at Food 4 Less in Springfield where he formed a circle of friendships he treasured. Tom was also preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Matthew David Boone.

Tom had a passion for woodworking, antiquing, and coin collecting. He was a man of quiet strength, deep integrity, and unwavering commitment to his family and community.

He is survived by his three children: Bradley Varden Richardson, Paxton, Illinois; Jennifer Jo Joy (Rick); and Rachel Sue Campbell (Glen), both of Springfield Missouri; ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His legacy of service, kindness, and craftsmanship lives on in all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, Tom requested that any voluntary donations be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Alumni Association, Attn: Randy Carpenter, Treasurer, 1410 N. Fremont, Springfield, MO 65802.

Services are being arranged by Greenlawn Funeral Home South. At Tom's request, services will be graveside Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1:00 pm, Brookline Cemetery, Brookline, Missouri.