Thomas Harper

Biography

Thomas Jackson Harper passed away following a brief illness Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family and pastor. He was born the only child of Milford A. and Goldie Mae Harper April 21, 1936 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He lived in Shenandoah until age 7 when his family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. In Omaha he completed grade school at Central Park and graduated from North High School in 1954. Tom was active as a youth in Omaha with the Central Park Congregational Church. As a young boy he prided himself as the most dedicated and reliable paperboy for the Omaha World Herald. Tom’s father passed away in 1952 after a struggle with cancer. In the spring of 1953 Tom suffered a second bout of Rheumatic Fever and spent three months in bed recovering. After graduating in 1954, Tom and his mother moved from Omaha to Boise, Idaho where his mother was employed by the Department of Law Enforcement Motor Vehicle Bureau and in 1955 Tom accepted employment with the Idaho State Police as a communications dispatcher. In 1959 he was transferred to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Tom proudly served the State of Idaho as a State Police Officer for 37 ½ years, retiring in 1992. In 1960, while working Tom met Eleanor Jean Skokan, a medical technologist at the LDS Hospital. After comparing class rings on their first date they were surprised to learn that they were both raised in Omaha not far from one another. They were united in marriage in Boise July 2, 1960. To this union was born two daughters, Susan Marie and Pamela Jean. He had an avid interest in U.S. history, and was proud of his family that had homesteaded in central Nebraska in the 1880’s. He and his wife became members of First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls early in their marriage and remain so to present day. Tom served as a Deacon, later as a ruling Elder, on numerous committees, and was First Presbyterian Church’s representative to Regional Council. He and Eleanor were active in Desert Fellowship and he enjoyed the social fellowship with his church family. Tom served as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 9 and was awarded Scoutmaster of the Year in 1974. He was also a member with the Russet Lions Club for 7 years, stepping aside in the spring of 2001 to free up more time for his family and hobbies. Those who knew him know of his passion for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In recent years Tom and Eleanor were fortunate enough to attend a couple football games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln as well as the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. His one desire was to become an expert fly fisherman and he enjoyed spending an afternoon on either Pine Creek or Rainey Creek trying to fool a trout. He dabbled in model airplanes and loved being able to work in his yard and with his flowers, always trying to encourage birds and squirrels (many of whom he had named) to call his yard home. Tom was also quite a reader. Since his retirement he has kept a list of every book he has read. He treasured his library card at the Idaho Falls Public Library and loved hunting the bargain tables at Barnes and Nobel. He enjoyed listening to his Gospel LPs on his turntable and found many records perusing garage sales and antique stores. Tom enjoyed repeatedly watching DVDs of the Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Barney Miller, and oddly enough, Alf. Tom and Eleanor rarely missed any Idaho Falls Community Concerts or Idaho Falls Symphony performances and were season ticket holders for Chukars baseball. In the most recent years Tom relished his role as Grandpa. He was known to many at his grandson’s former daycare at the YMCA and present Holy Rosary School as just that… “Grandpa.” Tom so looked forward to vacations back to Nebraska and Iowa visiting with family. One place that held a special place in his heart was Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska, a former Cavalry Post and Remount Depot steeped in history. He and his family cherished their frequent gatherings there, enjoying the peace and solitude that the park offers. Tom is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eleanor; daughters, Susan Marie Harper and Pamela Jean Carroll; son-in-law, Erin Carroll; grandson, Michael Edward Harper, all of Idaho Falls; brother and sister-in-laws, Don and Ellie Skokan of Wichita, Kansas and William and Judy Rivas of Golden, Colorado; nephew, Paul (Marci) Farmer (daughters, April and Renee) of Letcher, South Dakota; niece, Jenny (Scott) Hovarter (son, Jason) of Golden, Colorado; nephew, Will Rivas (daughters, Mercedes, Mia, Majdia, and son, Jules) of Mansura, Louisiana; and cousin, Beverly Meyer of Pomeroy, Iowa. He is preceded in death by his father and his mother Goldie who passed in 1978; father-in-law, Edward L. Skokan and mother-in-law, Frances C. Skokan. Memorial services will be at 11:00 am Friday, April 29, at First Presbyterian Church, 325 Elm Street, with the Reverend Dr. Dennis Falasco officiating. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Graveside services will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa under the direction of Pastor Rick Sleyster of First Presbyterian Church of Shenandoah. In lieu of flowers and in Tom’s memory, contributions may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church Idaho Falls “Next Step Capital Campaign” or to the Thomas Jackson Harper Fort Robinson Memorial Fund, c/o Westmark Credit Union, PO Box 2869, Idaho Falls, ID 83403-9984.

Funeral Services

Friday April 29, 2011 , 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church

The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Graveside services will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa.