Thomas J. Whalen

Thomas Joseph Whalen, age 76, of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025.
Tom is survived by his wife, Ronnie, his daughter, Molly Nick, son-in-law Chris Nick, two grandchildren, Tyler and Allie; his brother Pat Whalen and sister-in-law Peggy, his sister, Kathy Whalen and brother-in-law, Joe McCarthy; nephews Tim Whalen, Brian Whalen and wife, Sarah Whalen and nieces Katie Whalen, Kallie McCarthy, and Jennifer Otis.
His sister, Joan Otis, preceded him in death.
Tom was born October 15, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of John and Jane (McAuliffe) Whalen. He attended elementary and high school in St. Louis, graduating from Bishop DuBourg Highschool in 1967. Outside of school, Tom was active in athletics, playing soccer, baseball, and coaching soccer. He enjoyed scouting where he reached the rank of Eagle and served as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 158.
After high school, Tom attended Quincy College in Quincy Illinois. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1971. While in college, Tom met the love of his life, Mary Veronica (Ronnie) King. They were married on April 8, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio. They had a wonderful life together for 53 years.
After college, Tom began his work with the F. W. Woolworth Co. as a management trainee at numerous stores in the St. Louis area. He was promoted to store manager at the store in Arkansas City, Kansas and then to Manhattan, Kansas. He left the company in 1981.
Tom then served as the general manager at the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. He was involved in various aspects of the Chamber including SCORE/ACE, retail development, economic development, military relations, and Ambassadors. He was the Executive Director of the Future Manhattan Leadership Program, now known as Leadership Manhattan. After leaving the Chamber staff, Tom stayed involved in Ambassador, Member of the Board of Directors, committee member and received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990.
Tom went to work in 1988 as a management trainee at the Kansas Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. Over the years he became a life insurance underwriter before being promoted to Senior Underwriter and then Underwriting Manager.
In 2005, Tom took early retirement from Kansas Farm Bureau and went to work for Empire General Life Insurance Co. for a brief time before accepting a position with the Kansas Insurance Department. He started as a policy examiner and was later promoted to Director of the Producer Licensing Division before retiring in 2015.
Tom's community activity was varied and extensive, including United Way board member and president, RSVP advisory board member, Riley County Community Corrections advisory board, UFM board member, Planning Board member and Chair, City of Manhattan youth soccer and softball coach, as well as, coaching a Little Apple Soccer team for several years.
Tom was a dedicated and hard-working employee and community volunteer. He deeply loved his family and friends. Throughout his life and through his illness, family and friends offered love and support in a multitude of ways. Tom carried that love with him.
The family will greet friends during a visitation from 10:30 until 11:30a.m. Tuesday May 13, 2025, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial service will follow the visitation on Tuesday starting at 11:30a.m. at the funeral home. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The University of Kansas Health System, Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice or Flint Hills Breadbasket. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com