IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Harold L.

Harold L. Tompkin, Sr. Profile Photo

Tompkin, Sr.

February 17, 1926 – February 20, 2019

Obituary

Harold Leo "Floss" Tompkin, Sr., 93,  passed away from this Earth into the presence of his beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, February 20, 2019 at 2:54 a.m., Lincoln. Being the eldest of nine children, he was born February 17, 1926, to Leonard E. and Sarah Matthews (Ball) Tompkin, Eddyville, Nebraska. He was raised in Callaway and graduated from Callaway High School in 1944. At the age of 18 months, he had infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) which left his right leg short.

He studied architecture at Chicago Technical College, Chicago and University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He was a multi-talented, architectural designer/long-term care consultant/entertainer.

On Easter 1952, he married LaVerne Myra Schuknecht and enjoyed 52 years together before her death. Together, they had five children, three daughters and two sons as well as four grandchildren.

In 1951, Harold was hired as an engineering draftsman for the U.S. Geological Survey, Lincoln. In 1956, he established the home design firm, Homes for Convenient Living. The same year, he was awarded first place for his working drawings in the Nebraska General Contractor's Contest. The firm merged into a new business, Lumberman Plan Service, providing design service to the Nebraska Lumber Yards. In 1959,  Harold joined in a partnership with an architect and the plan service was sold to employees. In 1963, the partnership was discontinued and Harold became employed with Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society as a design consultant and regional director, later being promoted to design consultant and administration assistant and moving to the Central Office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1968 he established a health care planning and consulting firm and in 1971 moved the firm to Lincoln. Harold loved children and in 1973, established Kid Stuff and Other Things, a mini-theme park on wheels to entertain children at school fun nights and company picnics. He gave many youth their first employment. This company was sold in 1990. In his 48 years of labor, he always had custom design residencies on the drawing board. Harold's last job from 2005-2014 was working at the Independence House where he enjoyed reading mail to Alzheimer residents.

He was active in family genealogy, completing two family genealogy studies. He was a member of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society, Botna Valley Genealogical Society and Harrison County Genealogical Society. In 1995, he organized a Tompkin Family Reunion, first in a hundred years. For the past ten years, he has organized a reunion of his high school class. He was also in the process of writing his life history for his grandchildren. Harold loved flowers and shared them with others.

Harold served on many board of directors, including Luther Family Service (1959-1965), People City Mission (1970's), Southern Nebraska District-Lutheran Social Ministry (1962-1965), South Dakota District Lutheran Layman League (1968-1971) and Lutheran Senior Services of Nebraska, Inc. (1998-2002).

He served over 40 years as an officer or committee member of his church. He was chairperson of the Mayor's Site Selection Committee for the new People's City Mission and committee member of the 1965 International Lutheran Layman League Convention - Lincoln. He was a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Nebraska Polio Survivors Association, Men's Alzheimer's Association Support Group, Monday Night Alzheimer's Association Support Group, Independence House Alzheimer's Support Group, AARP, Plus 55, Bryan Cardiac Rehab, LR 179 Assisted Living Task Force, Alzheimer's Association public policies counsel and Alzheimer's Speaker's Bureau. In 1976 he was listed in Who's Who in Nebraska. Harold loved reading the newspaper, putting puzzles together and Husker football, volleyball and basketball games.

He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne M. Tompkin in 2005; his parents; three brothers; four sisters.

Harold is survived by his sons and daughter-in-laws, Harold Leo, Jr. "Harry" and wife Lisa, Lincoln, Steven Robert and wife Vicky, St. Charles, MO; daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca Lynn and husband Morey Cade, Parkville, MO, daughter, Trudy Jan, Des Moines, IA , Rachel Marie, Lincoln; four grandchildren, Travis, Austin, Jared, Morgan; brother, Clifford D. "Toy" Tompkin, Lincoln; brother-in-law, Bobby Beisel, Funk; sister-in-law, Shirley Schuknecht, Lincoln; numerous nieces and nephews. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Harold.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harold L. Tompkin, Sr., please visit our flower store.

Services

Visitation

Calendar
February
24

Faith Lutheran Church - Lincoln

8701 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Funeral Service

Calendar
February
25

Faith Lutheran Church - Lincoln

8701 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507

Starts at 11:00 am

Graveside Services and Interment

Calendar
February
25

Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery

6700 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68512

Starts at 2:00 pm

Harold L. Tompkin, Sr.'s Guestbook

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