Thomas Bulman
Thomas A. “Tom” Bulman, 51, of Decorah died Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. A celebration of life worship service will be held Saturday, July 18 at 11 a.m. at Stone Ridge Community Church in Decorah with Pastor Ed Krawczyk officiating; friends may greet the family at church one hour before the service.
A meal and visitation will follow from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at the Waukon Banquet Center. A private burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, rural New Albin. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be left to the family to be designated at a later date. In consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19, social distancing and wearing of masks is encouraged; if you are ill or have been recently exposed to COVID, please do not join the family in person. Condolences may be sent to Laurie Bulman at 1923 Ballroom Road, Decorah, IA 52101 or left at www.martinfunerals.com.
Thomas Alfred Bulman was born July 22, 1968 in Waukon, the son of Delbert James and Eloise Virginia (Quandahl) Bulman. He was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin and graduated from Waukon High School in 1986. In 1990, Tom received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Animal Science.
September 16, 1995, Tom married Laurie Meyer at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN. The couple started their life together in Sioux Falls, SD before moving to Decorah, where they have lived for the past 22 years and raised three sons.
For his entire career, Tom worked in the agricultural sales field, first with BASF for over two decades and then most recently with Rosen’s Inc., where he was highly respected by everyone who worked with him. Tom was also one of the current co-stewards of the Bulman family farm with two of his brothers.
Tom’s priorities were God, family and country. He was a man of deep faith, he loved his family and extended family deeply, and he loved his country, its unequaled freedoms and the opportunities it afforded him. Tom was always busy with something. Whether it was helping customers, working on the farm, tending his large garden, or helping family and friends with projects, he had an unrivaled work ethic and everything had to be done “just right” or it wasn’t worth doing in his book.
He loved anything to do with sports including fantasy football with his nephews and friends, and he was especially proud of watching his sons participate in Decorah Vikings football and soccer. He loved the Cyclones, Minnesota Vikings, Busch Light and John Deere. He had recently just finished having his dad’s first new tractor restored, a 1968 JD 4020, which he enjoyed using for hay rides with family and friends as recently as this past Fourth of July.
Tom liked traveling and making memories with family and friends with several trips to places like Florida and Mexico. Tom enjoyed socializing with family and friends, having a good laugh, and ole’ Tommy Boy was always ready for “just one more!” He was a kind, gentle, easy going soul, but would stand his ground if challenged and never shied away from a good debate, especially if it involved politics! Tom cast a long shadow and will be deeply missed by all his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Laurie; his children, Spencer, Austin and Sawyer; his siblings: Richard Bulman, Karen (John, Jr.) Kerndt, Jerry (Machelle) Bulman, Lori (Randy) Hover, Jeff (Tami) Bulman and Chris “Pud” (M’Liss) Bulman; his mother and father-in-law, Mary and Robert Staggemeier; his siblings-in-law, Scott (Joyce) Meyer, Jeff (Shannon) Staggemeier and Tina (Mike) Miller; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Delbert and Eloise Bulman. Honorary urnbearers are Tom’s three sons, Spencer, Austin and Sawyer.
