Thomas Richard Feller

Thomas Richard Feller, of Aurora, Colorado passed away June 30, 2021.

Tom was born in Le Mars, Iowa on February 18, 1936 to Peter A. and Dorothy A. Feller.
He was raised on a farm outside of Oyens, Iowa with two sisters and eight brothers. Tom graduated from Le Mars Central High school in 1954. In his early years, he worked on the family farm and in his uncle's blacksmith shop. He enlisted in the US Army in January, 1955. He served our country in Germany during the Korean war conflict and then was stationed in Ft Eustis, Virginia. After his discharge from the Army in January 1958, he lived in several places including Chicago Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; and back on the farm in Oyens, Iowa. He then followed three of his brothers to Aurora, Colorado where he worked in a local gas station, met his wife Joan in 1963 and married a year later. Tom and Joan raised a family of four children: Elizabeth, Joan M, Louis, and Kevin in Aurora, Colorado. He was a diesel mechanic by trade working at several truck shops before going to work as a locomotive mechanic for the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. After mergers with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, he retired in 1998 with 18 years of railroad service.

Tom loved camping and the outdoors. He traveled the country with his family from the East coast to the West coast in either a popup trailer or a motorhome. He enjoyed taking his family to see the country. In his retirement, he took his wife Joan to travel during the Colorado winters where they spent time in Lakewood, New Mexico; Rockport, Texas; and Casa Grande, Arizona. In the summers they camped on their lot in Nathrop, Colorado. Tom also traveled to Washington, D.C. when awarded a trip by Rocky Mountain Honor Flight, a Denver Colorado-based non-profit organization formed in 2007 whose goal is to fly every able and willing Veteran to Washington D.C. to visit the monuments and memorials dedicated to their service. Tom enjoyed teaching and helping anyone who wanted to learn.

Over the years Tom was a Boy Scout leader, a Union officer, and a member of several support groups including the Ostomy support group and the Low Vision support group. Tom was the Senior Vice Commander of the Denver chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. Most recently, Tom was involved with the Veteran Engagement Board providing input on aging-related research and clinical demonstration projects called OVET. His insights were included in a 42-page document to enhance VA healthcare and services.

Tom is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan; four children Elizabeth Fink (Chuck), Joan Efthemios, Louis Feller (Shar), and Kevin Feller (Pennie); one sister Mary Jo George; five brothers Paul Feller (Donna), Ralph Feller (Darlene), Karl Feller (Marlis), Denny Feller (Sheryl), Rick Feller (Bev); sister-in-law, Jo Feller; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Tom is preceded in death by his parents Peter A and Dorothy A Feller; brothers Pete Feller, Jay Feller, Larry Feller; and sister Kathy Cohrs.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting In-Memory donations be made to:
Rocky Mountain Honor Flight
By Mail:
Rocky Mountain Honor Flight
C/O Terry Garner - Treasurer
912 W. 139th Ct
Westminster, CO 80023-9357
Online: https://rockymountainhonorflight.org/donate-now

Services to be held on Friday, August 20, 2021.

Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - East Chapel
190 Potomac Street, Aurora, CO 80011
720-857-0700
10:00 am - 11:00 am Memorial Service
11:00 am - 1:00 pm Reception

Fort Logan National Cemetery - meet at Area B
3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80235
(303) 761-0117
2:30 pm - 2:55 pm Military Funeral Honors

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