Obituaries : Tom Boeckmann

Tom Boeckmann, 63, of Vinton died on January 1, 2025, of complications from liver cancer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Vinton Fire Station on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Refreshments will be provided. Private inurnment will be held later at Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Tripoli.

Tom was born on April 6, 1961, to Roger and Glenyce (Hartman) Boeckmann and grew up in Tripoli where he graduated high school. He later graduated from Upper Iowa University and Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. He moved to Vinton in 1983 where he met Lisa Brewer and they were married on September 14, 1985. They had the joy of raising their two children Trevor and Haley.

Tom and Lisa enjoyed a simple life while raising their children. They always enjoyed camping and involvement in their children's activities - now their granddaughter's activities. Tom and Lisa traveled the country by motorcycle and met some great friends along the way.

Tom always had a passion for helping people and took great pride in being the first paramedic in Benton County. He was a Benton County Deputy Sheriff, Director of the North Benton Ambulance Service and a firefighter with Vinton Fire Department. He spent 28 years with the state of Iowa as an Investigator and Communications Officer. His final act of serving others was by being an organ donor.

After retiring, he served as a subject matter expert for the US Dept of Homeland Security, traveling to all fifty states (with Lisa), and worked for the US Forest Service on the Incident Management Team and a part-time Assistant Project Manager for RACOM. He also started a new business, Vinton Monuments. He served many years on the Command Staff for the US National Disaster Medical System, responding to natural disasters, terrorism incidents and planned events. The most notable was serving as a Commander at the Alfred Murrah Bombing in Oklahoma City and Hurricane Ike in Galveston.

Tom was very involved with Boy Scouts with his Eagle Scout son, Trevor. He was a Wood Badge Course Director, Past Council Commissioner and Silver Beaver recipient. He served several years as an Airport Commissioner for the City of Vinton. He was Master of Vinton Masonic Lodge and Chaplain Emeritus of El Kahir Shrine. Most important to him was his membership in the Royal Order of Jesters where he held national positions.

He enjoyed camping, fishing, social activities and flying his Cessna. He was the Chief Hunter Education Instructor in Benton County for 25 years and was President of Turn In Poachers of Iowa. Nothing was more special to him than time with his family.

Tom is survived by his wife, Lisa; son Trevor (Tina Milburn) of NYC and daughter Haley (Phillip) Close of Vinton. The two survivors that put a sparkle in his eyes were his granddaughters Nora and Audrey Close. He is also survived by his sister, Lori Meyer of Evansdale, three nephews and their families and his mother-in-law, Iona Brewer of Clinton and Lisa's family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Forest Bolte, brother Joel and niece Cara Boeckmann. Also preceding him were his grandparents (he was Grandma Hartman's favorite!) and two special uncles - Bob Sievers and Marvin Knoploh.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Vinton Fire Department (PO Box 529, Vinton, IA 52349) or Iowa Firearms Coalition (PO Box 310, Moville, IA 51039). In addition, please consider being an organ donor and make sure your family knows your wishes.

Condolences may be left at Phillips Funeral Home.