Thomas Lee Hayek was born on September 27, 1942, on the family farm near Ulysses, NE; to James and Elizabeth (Sedlak) Hayek and passed away unexpectedly on June 11, 2015, at Calamus State Recreation Area in Loup County NE; at the age of 72 years, 8 months and 15 days. Tom grew up in Ulysses and spent his entire life there. He was in the last graduating class at Ulysses High School in 1960. Tom attended one year at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. On March 3, 1962, he was united in marriage to Lois Jean Bolen at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses and to this union five children were born. Tom worked at Cushman Motors for 40 plus years until it closed. He coached little league baseball for many years in Ulysses. Tom was a great family man, he would do anything for his children and grandchildren. He and Lois enjoyed taking their grandchildren on many different trips. Tom never missed one of their games or wrestling matches. He enjoyed learning new things and became a Mr. Fix It. He built his own home, which he did all the plumbing, wiring, roofing and flooring. Besides the love of his family, the outdoors was his playground. He loved fishing, hunting and trapping. Tom was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, two grandsons, Alan Thomas Hofer and Donald James Hayek Jr.; sister, Jennie Robak; and sister-in-law, Catherine "Kate" Hayek; three brothers-in-law, Dave Bolen, Irv Jones, Claude Hall. He is survived by his wife Lois of Ulysses, five children, Donald and wife Glora Hayek of Ulysses, Michael Hayek of Columbus, Teresa Hofer and husband Eric of Seward, Linda Navrkal of Columbus, and Matthew and wife Debbie Hayek of Ulysses, fourteen grandchildren; Joshua Thomas Hayek, Crystal Starr, John Robert Hayek, Mitchell Marvin Mark Meierdierks, Jamie Lee Meierdierks, Ross Michael Hofer, David Michael Hayek, Hanna Marie Hofer, Samantha Jo Hayek, Joseph Matthew Hayek, Saratoga Jean Hayek, Shailee Noelle Hayek, Cheyenne Jade Hayek, Thunder Thomas Hayek, one great granddaughter, Peyton Addison Hayek, two brothers, Robert Hayek of Morrill, NE; and Eugene Hayek of Seward, two sisters, Phyllis and Norbert Cerny of Chicago, IL and Bernie and Donald Chermok of Lincoln; sisters-in-law, Sandy Bolen Hall, Rose Bolen Jones; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a life shared with Tom.