Tom Howard

Thomas Wayne "Tom Cat" Howard, 74, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away September 10, 2017, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Tom was born August 31, 1943, in Vancouver, Washington, to Merlin Luther Howard and Anna Lora Thompson Howard. He grew up and attended schools in Idaho Falls. He served in the U. S. Navy for four years. Tom was married to Dorothy for 16 years. This union was blessed with five children. They were later divorced. He later married Betty for about a year and he was blessed with a daughter, Martha, and they later divorced. On June 22, 2015, he married JoAnna Bagley in Elko, Nevada. Tom and JoAnna made their home in Idaho Falls, where he worked for the City of Idaho Falls Sanitation Department. Following his retirement from the city he worked as a bus driver for private schools in the area. He enjoyed motorcycle riding with the local chapter of Harley Davidson, coin collecting, and restoring old antique cars. Music was the main focus of his life for enjoyment. He sang his entire life. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association and had been sober 41 years and active in AA. He was a jack of all trades and a kid at heart. He loved kids and they loved him; he was their hero. Tom is survived by his loving wife JoAnna Howard of Idaho Falls, ID, son, Don Wayne (Marie) Burkman of Dubois, ID, son, Wade Luther (Pauline) Burkman of Pocatello, ID, daughter, Janie Ann Palmer of Boise, ID, daughter, Martha LaRae Nessen of Idaho Falls, ID, stepdaughter, Amanda Lynn Bagley of Rexburg, ID, stepdaughter, Jessica Bagley of Rexburg, ID, sister, Willa "Billie" (Nile) Lees of Rigby, ID, brother, Gary Eugene (Kim) Prince of North Platte, NE, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two infant sons, Luther Howard and David Howard, a brother, David Allen Howard, and his baby sister, Mary Ellen Johnson. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2017, at Watersprings Church, 4250 South 25th East. The family will visit with friends from 12-12:45 p.m. Friday at the church.

Memorial Services will be held