Thomas "Tom" Blommel

Thomas Julius Blommel, age 72 of Freeport, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, at the Tree of Life Assisted Living Facility.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM on Monday, August 10 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. Evening visitation for Tom’s life will be held on Sunday, August 9 from 4-7PM at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and at 10AM Monday at the church.

Tom was born to Maurus and Rita (Rueter) Blommel on September 6, 1953, and was raised on the family farm west of Freeport. It was there Tom learned the values of hard work, humility, and he discovered his deep appreciation for nature. That connection to the outdoors stayed with him through every season of his life. On January 4, 1975, he was united in marriage to Mary Kay Elfering at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. After moving to town, Tom dedicated his career to truck driving and spent a lifetime behind the wheel, logging countless miles on the road for Famo Feeds and Manion’s Building Supplies. Always putting others first, Tom demonstrated his commitment to the Freeport community by proudly serving on the Freeport Fire Department for 20 years.

Above all else, Tom’s heart belonged to his family. He was the proud father of his daughter, Sherry, and lovingly raised four stepchildren, Pam, Mark, Mike, and Paula, guiding them all with a steady hand, quiet wisdom, and unconditional support. He showed every day that fatherhood is about showing up, loving deeply, and leading by example. In recent years, nothing brought Tom more joy than his grandkids. He was their biggest fan, rarely missing any chance to spend time with them or to cheer them on at trap shooting, swim/dive, gymnastics, or pole vault events.

An outdoorsman at heart, Tom found his true peace under open skies. Whether he was tending to his spring garden, packing their camper for a weekend trip, chasing a perfect drive on the golf course with friends, heading out for a fall day of pheasant hunting, or watching a spearing hole on a winter lake, he cherished every moment spent in nature.

Tom leaves behind a rich lifetime of love, laughter, and cherished memories. He is survived by his wife Mary Kay, daughter Sherry (Michael) Eveslage; his four stepchildren Pam (Bob) Laing, Mark Elfering, Mike Elfering, and Paula (Steve) Gill; his grandchildren (Ben & Joe Laing, and Grant & Josie Eveslage); his siblings Ron (Marj) Blommel, Gene (Marlene) Blommel, Carol (Ron) Funk and Brenda (Reinie) Gruber; many nieces and nephews, and many dear friends throughout the Freeport community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurus and Rita, his nephew, Darin Blommel, his brother-in-law Duane Kleve, and in-laws, Hubert and Agatha Zierden.