July
18,
1986
18,
1986
April
28,
2022
28,
2022
Tommy was born to Linda & Thomas N. Thomas Sr. in Hinsdale, IL. Home was in Glen Ellyn, IL during his early years and later residing in Somonauk, IL. Tommy passed away in his sleep unexpectedly while in Thayer, IA. Tommy is survived by his mother, Linda, multiple aunts, uncles, cousins, and the Brittany community; he was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.
Tommy graduated from Somonauk High School in 2004 and attended Waubonsee Community College. Tommy wrestled in high school and participated in scouting through The Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 2004. Tommy loved movies, rattling off quotes at will from the likes of “Dumb & Dumber” or “Talladega Nights” with one of his favorites being, “if you’re not first, you’re last!” Tommy loved sports, especially his Chicago teams. If the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, or the Blackhawks were on, Tommy was watching them or following on his phone while razing friends who supported rival teams; as a Cubs fan, he knew about being humble and supporting underdogs!
Ironically, dogs were one of the largest loves of his life – his first dog was a Brittany named Blaze who was a companion and hunting dog. In 1994, Tommy and his mother joined the LaSalle Brittany Club, beginning an odyssey that became the eventual focus of his life. He became immersed in the world of dog shows and field trials where he competed with his dogs and obtaining AKC titles and championships in the pursuit of bettering the Brittany as a breed, owning 18 of his own. Tommy finished his dogs to the following titles: 2 JH, 9 CH, 1 GCH, 7 FC, 5 AFC, 6 DC, and 1 GFC. Tommy’s dog TNT’s Raise’N A Ruckus was the first dog of ANY breed to obtain Dual Grand status; Rae & Tommy also earned two placements at the ABC Gun Dog National Championships. He hunted his dogs on released and wild birds in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota practicing “shoot to release” as often as possible in the name of conservation.
Tommy was a person who only knew friends he hadn’t met yet and would help anyone who asked him; always positive in nature and smiling, having time for everyone. These traits led to an area of Tommy’s life where he truly excelled – Handling and Scouting dogs in Field Trials. In this environment, he was eventually tagged as “Lunch Box” for his ability to eat a lot at the end of a day in the field. “Lunch Box” graciously lent others a horse or his time; Tommy was always scouting for friends, eventually scouting for professional trainers Tom Tracy for a few seasons and Bob Burchett for the last 6 years. His travels took him to field trials in 20 states, expanding his friend base everywhere he went, across multiple breeds and through judging weekend trials and Championships over the last 14 years. Tommy handled multiple Brittanys for others at the National level, earning a total of 5 placements: 2 National wins and 3 other placements. He also scouted for multiple other National winning and placing dogs and their handlers, always making a good team better.
The Field Trial Community will long remember his contributions to the sport and the lives of those he encountered everywhere; as an organ and tissue donor, Tommy is helping others even after his passing.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6,2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL with Rev. David J. Kaul officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on May 5, 2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the following organizations:
- The Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, TN
- The American Brittany Foundation
- Double T Farms (The Bird Dog Ranch) in Thayer, IA
For more information or to sign the online guestbook please go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. Rt 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
815-498-2363
Tommy graduated from Somonauk High School in 2004 and attended Waubonsee Community College. Tommy wrestled in high school and participated in scouting through The Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 2004. Tommy loved movies, rattling off quotes at will from the likes of “Dumb & Dumber” or “Talladega Nights” with one of his favorites being, “if you’re not first, you’re last!” Tommy loved sports, especially his Chicago teams. If the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, or the Blackhawks were on, Tommy was watching them or following on his phone while razing friends who supported rival teams; as a Cubs fan, he knew about being humble and supporting underdogs!
Ironically, dogs were one of the largest loves of his life – his first dog was a Brittany named Blaze who was a companion and hunting dog. In 1994, Tommy and his mother joined the LaSalle Brittany Club, beginning an odyssey that became the eventual focus of his life. He became immersed in the world of dog shows and field trials where he competed with his dogs and obtaining AKC titles and championships in the pursuit of bettering the Brittany as a breed, owning 18 of his own. Tommy finished his dogs to the following titles: 2 JH, 9 CH, 1 GCH, 7 FC, 5 AFC, 6 DC, and 1 GFC. Tommy’s dog TNT’s Raise’N A Ruckus was the first dog of ANY breed to obtain Dual Grand status; Rae & Tommy also earned two placements at the ABC Gun Dog National Championships. He hunted his dogs on released and wild birds in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota practicing “shoot to release” as often as possible in the name of conservation.
Tommy was a person who only knew friends he hadn’t met yet and would help anyone who asked him; always positive in nature and smiling, having time for everyone. These traits led to an area of Tommy’s life where he truly excelled – Handling and Scouting dogs in Field Trials. In this environment, he was eventually tagged as “Lunch Box” for his ability to eat a lot at the end of a day in the field. “Lunch Box” graciously lent others a horse or his time; Tommy was always scouting for friends, eventually scouting for professional trainers Tom Tracy for a few seasons and Bob Burchett for the last 6 years. His travels took him to field trials in 20 states, expanding his friend base everywhere he went, across multiple breeds and through judging weekend trials and Championships over the last 14 years. Tommy handled multiple Brittanys for others at the National level, earning a total of 5 placements: 2 National wins and 3 other placements. He also scouted for multiple other National winning and placing dogs and their handlers, always making a good team better.
The Field Trial Community will long remember his contributions to the sport and the lives of those he encountered everywhere; as an organ and tissue donor, Tommy is helping others even after his passing.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6,2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL with Rev. David J. Kaul officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on May 5, 2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the following organizations:
- The Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, TN
- The American Brittany Foundation
- Double T Farms (The Bird Dog Ranch) in Thayer, IA
For more information or to sign the online guestbook please go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. Rt 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
815-498-2363
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