Thomas Hummell

Thomas Evans Hummell was born January 8, 1947, in Oxford, Nebraska, to John and Corryn Hummell and passed peacefully at home in Farmington, New Mexico with his wife Marlene at his side on October 2, 2023.

The Hummell's moved to Curtis, Nebraska when Tom was in the fifth grade, where he attended Curtis Public School and University of Nebraska School of Agriculture (high school) graduating in 1965.

In October of 1965, Tom enlisted in the United States Army, and proudly served with Bravo Co. 1st /503rd 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Tom was wounded Feb. 1967 in an operation in Warzone D. For his actions, he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with 'V'. Tom was very proud of being a paratrooper and serving in Vietnam.

Following his time in the Army, Tom earned an architectural degree at Arizona State University, and pursued that career in Arizona, Colorado and Farmington, New Mexico. Tom started his architectural career in Farmington working for Mauck, Stastny & Rassan before teaming up with Carlyn Rodahl to form Rodahl & Hummell Architecture in 1989. In Tom's 32 years with the firm, he was the project architect on over 500 commercial buildings. These included work for all area School Districts, City of Farmington, City of Aztec, City of Bloomfield, San Juan College, and San Juan County. Some of these included Koogler Middle School gym, McCoy Elementary classrooms, Aztec High School building, Rocinante High School, Northeast Elementary Library, San Juan College cafeteria, numerous County fire stations including Cedar Hill, Blanca, Flora Vista, Centerpointe and the SJC Public Health Building. Private projects included Extension offices, Dial Oil, Laundratopias, PMS Clinics, Horace Nisson, Vectra Bank and several 7-2-11 stores. Tom retired in 2022.

Tom loved the outdoors and especially the mountains. He enjoyed camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting. He did a lot of backpacking, both solo and with a group of friends, and climbed 21 of the 58 14ers in Colorado. Tom loved his Labrador dogs and enjoyed pheasant hunting in Kansas and Nebraska.

He and Marlene Battelle were childhood friends and re-met at a high school reunion. After many years of traveling and spending time together they married in 2015. Tom and Marlene had many adventures, accomplished their goal of visiting all 63 National Parks, and enjoyed the outdoors together as well as quiet times at home. Whether being at the cabin, having relatives and friends visit, whitewater rafting, hiking, traveling with their camper, attending Hummell family reunions and 173rd Airborne reunions or even their annual chainsaw firewood-cutting expeditions, they were in it together and had a good time.

Tom was active on the board of directors of the Sky Soldiers Foundation, served as treasurer and was particularly invested in the scholarship program for 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers and their families.

Family was important to Tom, and he stayed in touch with them on a regular basis. He was an active part of the lives of his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Everyone always looked forward to the yearly Christmas letters he wrote. His straightforward manner and dry sense of humor shone through.

Tom is survived by a large and loving family. Wife: Marlene Battelle. Siblings: Brother Norman Hummell of Austin, TX, sisters Sharon (Don) Dodson of Colorado Springs, CO, and Janice McConahay of Tempe, AZ. Marlene's children: Darlene Farabee of Vermillion, SD, Christopher (Jo) Farabee of Hickman, NE, and grandchildren Jemma (Grahm) Kenobbie, Thoren, Dannen, Aksel and Haaken Farabee. Nieces and nephews: Stephen Hummell, John Paul Hummell, Tammy (Stan) Mar, Judy Brinkman, Matthew (Maria) Dodson, Michael (Rhonda) Dodson, Neil McConahay, Tina (Rudy) Serino, Tom (Mandy) McConahay. 19 Great Nieces and Nephews and 15 Great-great nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska with military honors at 1:00 PM central time, Friday, October 27th, followed by a Celebration of Life in North Platte, Nebraska.

Memorials may be directed to Sky Soldiers Foundation Scholarship Fund. https://skysoldiersfoundation.org/scholarships/scholarship-fund/

Arrangements by: Farmington Funeral Home, www.FarmingtonFuneral.com