Tommy J. Tincher

Tommy Jay Tincher, 85, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away after a long battle with dementia and cancer on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, IA. He was born in Ft. Madison on May 7, 1940, the son of Dr. Maurice George Tincher and Verna Lilah DeRosear Tincher and was a 1958 graduate of Ft. Madison Public High School where he was on the football team. Tom was a railroad man all his life and retired with 45 years of service. He started as a brakeman for the Santa Fe Railway, running freight trains but also working as a conductor on Amtrak passenger trains where he had the pleasure of meeting many celebrities. On one of his early runs, he was honored to transport the President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, even being invited to join the President and his wife, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, for dinner. Later, he worked for BNSF as a train engineer. He was especially proud to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, George Hiram Tincher, another railroad man who also ran trains for the Santa Fe Railway. In his young adult years, Tom was well known for his love of fast cars, He raced at many local tracks, and in 1962, was credited with setting a drag racing world record for B-Superstock at the 1/4 -mile Dragway in Cordova, IL. He raced a 1961 Ford Starliner with a record-setting run of 11.1, and a top speed of 111.1. He also captured the title of "Top Eliminator" at the 1/8-mile Tri State Dragway in Kahoka, MO, and the 1/8-mile Lee County Dragway in Keokuk, IA. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time in the woods hunting and, in the barn, taking care of his horses. He especially enjoyed bull riding and calf roping at rodeos and spent many hours in the saddle training his horses. Tom is probably best known for his love of golf. He was an exceptionally skilled player, winning many local tournaments and was known as an accurate putter. He was especially proud to have scored an eagle on each of the 18 holes at Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course, with the exception of one hole! His retirement was fruitful and he played many rounds of golf, recalling at one point that he had played 266 rounds of golf within a single year. He even accomplished something that most golfers only dream of, he was able to shoot his age every year since turning 67, up until the most recent years. He enjoyed playing poker with his buddies at the Eagles Club and other card games at the casino. His presence will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and golf buddies. He is survived by his wife, Rita Collins Tincher, his sister, Sharon Scholl-Nabulsi (husband Moudy Nabulsi) his daughters, Cyndy Foster, and Tammy Underwood, both of Burlington, his son, Scott Tincher (wife Amy), of Bloomington, MN., daughters, Tracy Simpson, Kimberly Tincher Zahner, Kelly Tincher-Westfall, all of Missouri, daughter Tomi Jo Burke, of Oklahoma, step-daughter Chantelle Hull (husband Zach) Odessa, KS., step-son, Eric Schrader (wife Michele), of Atlanta, GA. He had seventeen grandchildren and several great grandchildren, a nephew, Todd Scholl (wife Michele) of Auburn, AL and his favorite sister-in-law, Loraine Bueker. He had an infectious desire for adventure, a mischievous sense of humor, and he was sunny in all kinds of weather. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory and no services are planned. Online condolences to the Tincher family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.