On Thursday, September 2, 2021, Thomas John Bomba, 93, passed away peacefully at his residence in Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, Indiana. He was a devoted husband and proud father and grandfather. His wonderful sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.
Tom was born in Barberton, Ohio, on February 20, 1928, to father The Reverend Andrew T. Bomba and mother Elizabeth Susan Gecy Bomba. Tom was the third of four children and as the son of a Lutheran minister, he recalled always being at church very early on Sunday mornings. As a young child, he was hit by a car while following the older children into the street and was in a coma for ten days. His full and long life is credit to his strong constitution and his strong faith.
After graduating from Barberton High School, Tom joined the Army and served as a military policeman in Korea near the end of WWII. After the war, he used his G.I. benefits to attend Valparaiso University and received a BA degree in business. He also tended bar while in college and could make the perfect Dry Manhattan.
In 1961, Tom married Dorothy Elizabeth Lubbers. The two shared 36 years of marriage and much love and laughter. Tom enjoyed playing golf and bowling, watching The Ohio State Buckeyes play football, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
After 34 years in sales, marketing and distribution for Amoco Oil Company, living and working in Terre Haute, Evansville, South Bend and West Lafayette, Indiana, Tom retired to Eustis, Florida, and stayed busy playing golf and going to the beach with Dorothy. After Dorothy’s cancer diagnosis, they returned to West Lafayette, Indiana, to be closer to family and where he cared for Dorothy until her passing in 1997. In 2015 Tom returned to South Bend and spent his final years at Holy Cross Village.
He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his parents, sister, Leah Wilson, and brothers Daniel Bomba, and The Reverend James Bomba.
He is survived by his daughter Liz, and husband, Mike of South Bend, Indiana; his son, John, and wife, Amanda of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and his grandchildren, Anthony Rulli, fiancé Haley Buchanan; Lia Rulli, Alex Rulli, Dory Bomba, and Daniel Bomba.
There will be a small private service for family members and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://act.alz.org/
Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, IN is handling arrangements. To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.
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