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Funeral Services for Thomas Samuel Cummings, age 90, of Chadron will be Thursday September 11, 2008 at 2:00 PM at United Methodist Church in Chadron with Pastor Seth Leypoldt officiating. Burial will be at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. A memorial has been established for the United Methodist Church. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Thomas was born July 26, 1918 at Tecumseh, Nebraska, and left this life on September 6, 2008 at Chadron, Nebraska. Tom was the fourth of five children born to Samuel and Lillian Cummings, and grew up on the family’s dairy farm near Tecumseh. When Tom was 15, his father died, leaving Tom responsible for running the family’s livestock and farming operations. When America entered World War II, Tom and his mother decided to sell the farming operation so Tom could join the service. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and became a pilot. He eventually found himself with the 466th Bomber Group in England. He and his crew were on the last bombing mission flown over Germany, from which they were ordered to return without dropping their bombs. Tom was released from active duty in 1946, but remained in the Air Force Reserves for 22 years, retiring as a Major.

Tom married Ila Laue, also of Tecumseh, on January 28, 1947. They settled in Elm Creek, Nebraska, where Tom first managed an Allied Mills alfalfa dehydrating plant and then the Spelts Lumber Yard. He later worked as the office manager at a large livestock auction in Kearney, but wanted to get into the banking business and took a job as a bank examiner. That job led to a position as Vice President of the Lexington State Bank. Tom later joined a group of investors and served as President of the Cozad First National Bank until 1974. When they left Cozad, Tom and Ila moved to Chadron where Tom served as President of the First National Bank of Chadron and managed Platte Valley Federal Savings and Loan. After he retired from the banking business, Tom remained active in many aspects of the Chadron community well into his 80’s and maintained a small office in downtown Chadron until his death.

Tom believed strongly in civic involvement and education. Everywhere they lived, he and Ila gave generously of their time to an amazingly large and varied array of organizations. In addition to serving many, many years on the Boards of such organizations as the ChadronHospital, RSVP, and WesternNebraskaCommunity College, Tom was long involved with Boy Scouts and 4-H. He was a long-time Rotarian and hosted many Rotary exchange students, initiated the first Ag Appreciation event in DawesCounty, and received the Ak-Sar-Ben good neighbor award. He was active in the Methodist church and with CampComeca and CampNorwesca, and had a sizeable collection of awards and recognitions from the Chambers of Commerce in the communities where he lived. He was also active in the American Legion and VFW, as well as the TehamaShrineTemple where he not only raised funds, but helped families gain access to services at Shrine hospitals. In addition to leadership roles, Tom loved the role of “Chef.” He was well known for serving at pancake feeds, barbecuing for county fairs, and, most notably, for making nearly 10,000 gallons of his famous vegetable beef soup and chili. Tom’s soup and chili was a staple at the Boy Scout “Soup and Pie Supper “ and other community events until he was well into his 80’s.

Given the value that Tom placed on education, he was very pleased that all three of his children earned graduate degrees. Although Tom’s children made him wait until age 65 to become a grandfather, he was able to relish his oldest grandchild’s recent completion of a graduate degree.

Immediate Survivors:

Children & their families- Richard and Roxanne Cummings, and their children Spencer and Tori, of Boise, ID; Barbara and Ron Tuttle and their daughter Kenzie, of Kearney, NE; and Robert and Colleen Cummings and their daughter Lauren, of Phoenix, AZ.

Sister- Gertrude Tucker (Davis, CA).

Sister-In-Law- Joann Laue (Harvard, NE).

Nieces & Nephews- Numerous