Thomas Raymond Zocholl

Thomas (Tom) Raymond Zocholl, age 81, passed away on Thursday June 13, 2024. 

Tom was born on March 6, 1943 in Loup City, Nebraska. Tom’s parents, Paul and Domicella (Sally) Zocholl, were 3rd generation Polish immigrant farmers. Tom’s only sister, Karen, was born when he was three years old. The small Zocholl family lived in a farmhouse near Loup City, Nebraska until drought forced them to leave the farm. They moved to Westminster, Colorado when Tom was 13. He graduated from Westminster High School in 1961. It was then that his passions in life brought him to many beautiful places that he called home, from Colorado to Alaska.

From a young age, Tom loved to camp, fish, and hunt. He took his family camping and fishing often. He especially loved to put his canoe on the water, throw a line in, and drink a cold one. He also always enjoyed playing cards. When his children were young, he engaged them in family card games every weekend. As he aged, he continued to be an avid card player, always up for a game of canasta pinochle, cribbage, bridge, or any other game that anyone wanted to play. Tom always had a deep love of music. He enjoyed playing his accordion, his guitar, and his harmonica. His family and friends loved to listen to him play. Besides being musically talented, he loved to dance. He wouldn’t miss a chance to three step a polka or swing a lady around to an old country tune. His love of country music led him into the world of cowboy poetry. Family and friends who were lucky enough to hear him perform would tell you that he was an amazing and talented poet. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Domicella Zocholl, his sister, Karen Drake, and his wife Marilyn Zocholl.

Tom is survived by his former wife, Therese McElroy, and their children Michael Zocholl, Laura (Chad) Gore, Kathleen (Jeff) Matney. He leaves behind six grandchildren, Chase Hill, Travis Gore, Casey Gore, Courtney Matney, Ashley (Noah) Zylstra and Brady Gore. He also leaves behind two great grandchildren, Eleanor Zylstra and Murphy Zylstra. Tom is also survived by his brother-in-law, Mark Drake, his nephew Mark Anthony Drake, and his niece Kendra (Glenn) Royal.