Henry Thomas "Tom" Buxman

Henry Thomas (Tom) Buxman passed away at the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colorado on November 19, 2022. Tom was born on March 11, 1939 in Fort Morgan, Colorado to Henry Buxman and Caroline (Weimer) Buxman.

Tom farmed around the Brush and Fort Morgan area until he purchased the Oasis Bar in Wiggins, Colorado, and operated it for several years. He moved north of Haigler, Nebraska to farm in 1976. In 1981, he married the love of his life, Marge McIntosh. Together they farmed until 2000 but continued custom harvesting for several more years. He went to work for Pioneer Seed Company, delivering seed between their warehouses for seven years. They moved to the Wray area in 2008.

Tom grew up in the Fort Morgan area.  He attended school in Fort Morgan and graduated from Fort Morgan High School, class of 1957.  He began hunting and fishing on the nearby river as a very young boy. He hunted and shot a Grizzly Bear in Alaska with Archie Glazier. Tom hunted coyotes with his three beloved dogs, Pearl, Strip, and Buster. He fished in Canada with local friends. Tom and his oldest son, Dan took fishing trips to Alaska and Mexico. Tom spent most of his free time after retirement fishing in most all of the lakes and reservoirs in our area.

Tom was an accomplished trapshooter. He and Marge traveled all over the country shooting in state and national events, as well as local turkey shoots. He was an All-American shooter and had been inducted in the Nebraska Trapshooters Hall of Fame. He taught Marge to shoot and was really proud when she shot a better score than he did. When he could no longer shoot, you would find him coaching new shooters, fellow shooters, his kids, and grandkids; always talking shooting and gun safety.

A competitor at heart, Tom played pool from a young age. As he got older, he enjoyed playing at the pool hall and competing in pool tournaments. He really enjoyed teaching his kids and grandkids the fine points of the game and “letting them win” was out of the question. He made them earn it. Tom loved playing cards to pass the time between trapshoots and after dinner with family on the holidays, especially Hearts and Gin Rummy.

Tom worked hard and played hard. He rodeoed and raced stock cars. One time, he and Leon McDaniel even rode their horses up into the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, searching for the Lost Dutchman’s mine of treasure. As part of his farming equipment, he had an airplane that he used to check sprinklers, fly for parts, and fly local law enforcement to identify marijuana sites for extraction.

Tom loved people; he did not know a stranger. When he went to work for Pioneer Seed Company, he said that was his dream job—he gets to drive around and talk to people all day long. He loved to have coffee every morning at the Wray Market, and would talk to anyone about anything. He was a great storyteller and had a story for every occasion.

Tom lived a full life, doing so many things and traveling to many places. He raised his kids to work hard but also to have a hobby as well. His greatest joys were his grandkids and great-grandkids. He took them for rides in the Dune Buggy, teaching each that could reach the pedals, how to drive a stick shift. He taught them how to fish, shoot a gun, play ping-pong, pool, and poker. Tom took every opportunity to spend time with them even if that meant just simply visiting with them and telling them stories.

Tom Buxman is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Buxman and Caroline Larrick, and his sister, Alda Mae Cook. He is survived by his wife, Marge, children; Dan Buxman (Gina), Steve Buxman, Emma Brott (Rich), Jeffery Eckhardt, Thomas (TC) Buxman; and his brother Bill (Katy) Buxman. He is also survived by his greatest accomplishment, which are his thirteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and all of his many, many friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life on his birthday, Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the American Legion on Main Street in Haigler, Nebraska. Details to follow.

Memorials maybe made to the Haigler Legion Hall, 135 N. Porter Avenue, Haigler, Nebraska 69030. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.