Thomas Kumpf

Thomas "Tom" David Kumpf, age 76, died Friday, March 14, 2014, at Golden Living Center in Columbus, NE.

Tom was born February 10, 1938 to George C. and Margaretha (Rabeler) Kumpf at the Kumpf home in Leigh, Nebraska. He attended grade school and high school in Leigh, graduating in 1955. Tom earned All-State honors in basketball and football while at Leigh High. He threw 74 touchdown passes and never had an interception. In basketball he scored 49 points in a single game. He was also a standout pole-vaulter in track. Tom was nominated for Nebraska Athlete of the Year in 1955. He received a full scholarship to play basketball at Valparaiso University in Indiana and a full scholarship to play football at the University of Nebraska. He chose football at Nebraska, but a knee injury ended his career during his freshmen year. After 2 years at UNL, he transferred to Midland College in Fremont where he graduated with a degree in business administration in 1959.

After graduating from Midland College, he took a job as a sales representative with the Jayhawk Box Co. in Fremont. The job moved his family from Fremont to Omaha to the home office in Lawrence, KS, and then to Overland Park, KS. In 1968, he moved his family to Columbus, where he owned and operated the X-L Motel before beginning his career as a realtor in 1971. Tom worked for a number of local real estate companies, most recently with ReMax Total Realty, where he was the principal broker until he retired in 2013.

Tom was very active in public service. He was a member of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, the Elks Country Club, St. Isidore Church, the Scotus Booster Club, and the Columbus Board of Realtors. He was on the Columbus City Council for 6 years. He served on both the park board committee and the housing authority board. In 1981, he was elected to the Loup Public Power Board, where he served until retiring in January 2014.

Tom spent almost every summer of his life in Minnesota, a tradition he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Time spent on the lake Up North was one of his greatest loves. He was an avid and competitive card player and golfer, and he could be found most mornings drinking coffee and discussing lifes big issues with his buddies. He loved selling real estate and very much enjoyed everyone he worked with throughout his 40+ years in the business.

Tom is survived by his wife of 55 years Theresa (Reichmuth) Kumpf; sister, Greta (Kumpf) Chleboun of Columbus, son Rex (Elizabeth) of Columbus, daughter Vanessa (Patrick Higgins) of Nashville, son Bret (Connie) of Columbus, daughter Elizabeth Walter (Michael) of Omaha; five grandchildren, Taylour and Jackson Kumpf, Thomas, Erin, and Eleanor Walter; three step-grandchildren, Kari and Kayla Robertson and Kristi (Tommy) Hough; step-great-grandchild, Jackson Romberg, and numerous nieces and nephews.

His parents, George and Margaretha, preceded him in death along with a brother-in-law, Don Chleboun.

Memorials may be made to St. Isidore Church stained glass fund, Scotus Central Catholic, or donors choice.