Thomas Dixon

Harvard resident, Thomas (Tom) Dixon, 84, passed away Monday, June 17, 2013 at the Harvard Rest Rosary will be at 10 am Thursday, June 20, 2013 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Harvard, NE with Father Tvrdy officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am following the rosary. Burial will be in the Harvard Cemetery, Harvard, NE with Military rites by the United States Air Force and American Legion Post. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 3 pm to 7 pm at the Alberding-Wilson Funeral Home, Harvard, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com . Tom was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 21, 1929 to John Patrick Dixon and Josephine Domagal. In 1945, at the age of 16, Tom left St. Paul Central High School to join the Army Air Corp. In 1947 he returned to Central High to finish high school and then reenlisted into the newly formed United States Air Force. Tom met Dorothy Jane Asmus when she was 14 years old in St. Paul, the meeting aided by a fateful snowball leaving the hand of Dorothy and landing on the face of Tom. They married soon after on May 7, 1951 and together spent the next 22 years in the Air Force, traveling the world and raising their seven kids. Tom was stationed at various times in Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Mississippi, Florida, France, England, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. They had children born in Minnesota (4), Mississippi (1), France (1) and Nebraska (1). The Air Force sent them to the Hastings Nebraska Air Force base in 1964 for their final station. They brought their six children to live in Harvard, Nebraska and it is Harvard they found a home. Tim Dixon was born to Tom and Dorothy during their early years in Harvard, the last of their seven children. While in Harvard with seven children and still in the Air Force Tom was sent to Viet Nam during the Viet Nam War leaving his wife at home to raise the kids, something Dorothy had done many times throughout his days in the Air Force. Toms career in the military covered World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Tom retired from the Air Force on February 28th 1970. Following his military retirement he was employed several years at the Strand, Rivoli and Hastings Drive-In theatres while attending Central Community College. After a period of self employment Tom went to work for Mary Lanning Hospital from which he retired at the age of 63. Tom was an accomplished artist and spent his retirement years doing what he loved most; painting, sculpting and traveling to various art shows throughout the state where he presented many of his works. Tom was a member of the Lions Club and was a devoted member of the Harvard St. Josephs Catholic Church. Tom is survived by his children, Thomas Patrick Dixon of Tulsa, Oklahoma, George Dixon of Coppell, Texas, Michael (and Karla) Dixon of Columbus, Nebraska, Colleen (and Harlan) Schriner of Lincoln, Nebraska, Sharon (and Dean) Schaneman of Scottsbluff Nebraska and Tim (and Stephanie) Dixon of Coppell, Texas, 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by Dorothy, his wife of 60 years, his daughter Laura Lee Mewhirter, his grandchild Brent Dixon and his two brothers, George and Walter.