Tommy "Tom" Joe Baumgardner, Jr., age 66, of North Platte, NE passed away on Monday, February 21. 2022 at North Platte Care Center, just one day short of his 67th birthday. Born in Parsons, Kansas on February 22, 1955, he was the son of Tommy J. Baungardner, Sr. and Jo (Pittman) Baumgardner.
Tom graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, MO and Ottawa University in Ottawa, KS. On May 22, 1982 he married Sandra Dee Smith in Kansas City, MO and to this union two sons were born. Tom owned and operated the Budweiser Distributor in North Platte for many years. He later worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, retiring in 2018. He was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. He loved spending time with his racing community and family and was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, where he won the Gordie Shuck Sportsmanship award. He raced Classic Modified, IMCA Modified, and Sport Compact race cars at many are tracks.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Sandy; sons, Tommy Joe Baumgardner, III of Norht Platte, NE and Andrew Baumgardner (fiancee Manda) of North Platte, NE; brothers Brian (Molly) Baumgardner of Overland Park, KS and Bruce (Pam) Baumgardner of Republic, MO.
He was predeceased by his parents.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. until the time of a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte, NE with Father Bernie Kimminau officiating. The memorial book will be available to sign on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed to the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.