Thomas H. “Tom” Havemann, 79, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, IA.
Funeral Services will be at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Pastor Willie Rosin will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to The American Heart Association or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Tom was born on May 25, 1945, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of William C. Havemann and Bertha A. (Swanson) Havemann. He married Judith M. (Judy) Vorwerk on September 23, 1967, at First Baptist Church in Muscatine.
Tom graduated from Muscatine High School in 1963. He then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. From 1967 to 1971, Tom served in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Jacksonville, FL. and Virginia Beach, VA. He also served aboard the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea. Tom graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972 with a B. S. degree in Business Administration.
More than anything else, Tom enjoyed his family and sports. Growing up with his parents and four siblings in South End, Muscatine, Tom remembered his childhood as the “best childhood ever.” When not working at the family grocery store, Tom could be found on the banks of the Mississippi River fishing with his dad and big brother or at Oregon Field or Musser Park playing ball. A highlight of his young life was playing a pick-up game of baseball with Satchel Paige.
After college, Tom managed his career in a manner that allowed him to spend quality time with his wife, Judy, his high school sweetheart and their two children as well as with extended family and close friends. Attending Hawkeye sporting events and gathering everyone together for Hawkeye Football tailgating were a major part of Tom and Judy’s life for 25 plus years. All who gathered with them for these events still cherish these memories.
Later in life, Tom’s primary focus was on his grandchildren, his 5 “Burns Boys.” Nothing gave him more pleasure than spending time with them and watching them grow into 5 fine young men. No one could be prouder of them than their “Papa.” They also revered him and looked up to him as a major role model. Tom was also a role model for his two children, his son-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Tom is survived by his wife, Judy, to whom he was married for 56 wonderful years; his children, Amy L. Burns and husband David, of St. James, Missouri and Matthew T. Havemann and partner Lorie Ann Lee, of Eugene, Oregon; his grandchildren, Nicholas D. Burns of Jacksonville, Florida; Joshua T. Burns of Corpus Christi, Texas; Joseph C. Burns, Maxwell N. Burns, and David M. (Mike) Burns of St. James, Missouri; his step grandson, Ascher (Sunny) Lee of Eugene, Oregon; his sibling, Carol A. Havemann-Lynch of Houston, Texas; and his sibling in-law, Allen V. Jacobson of Hugo, Minnesota. Tom is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; by his aunts, Anna C. Havemann and Louisa W. Havemann; by his brother, Ronald W. Havemann and wife Mary Ann, formerly of Oakland, CA, later Pinole, CA; his sisters, Mary K. Jacobson, formerly of Hugo, MN. and Janice L. Suhl and husband Donald, formerly of Muscatine, IA; his sister-in-law, Beverly R. Suhl, formerly of Muscatine, IA; and his brother-in-law, Joseph G. Lynch, formerly of Houston, TX.
Judy would like to thank the staff at The University of Iowa Hospitals for their care and many kindnesses shown to Tom during his hospitalization. She also wants to extend her appreciation to extended family and close friends for their prayers, love and support during this difficult journey.
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