Tom was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 18, 1948, to Bob and Stella Rombach. He spent his entire childhood in the same family home and welcomed three younger brothers over the years. He graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 1966. In the spring of 1967, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to the front lines of the Vietnam War, where he earned two Purple Hearts.
After his four years with the Marines, Tom held a variety of jobs until he began his career with the United States Postal Service in 1983. By then, he had married the love of his life, Debbie in 1975 and together they raised Bob, Michelle and Nick.
His new family moved often in the Twin Cities, never quite finding (trying to find) a place they could settle in. Then Tom was hired as postmaster of Grantsburg in 1990. He had always loved the area, remembering fondly his childhood visits to his cousin Pudgy and wife Scheryl on Big Doctor Lake in Siren.
When he moved his family to Grantsburg, it was somewhat against his kids’ wishes – but as it turned out, father knew best. The Rombachs were quickly embraced by the town, and Tom became involved in Rotary and other local organizations, including many lunches at the “Round Table” at the Rainbow Café. Who knows what kinds of dreams and schemes he and his buddies came up with there! The Rombach family found their home, and the entire family has settled in.
During his young adult life, Tom loved playing softball – and he was really good at it. In Grantsburg, Tom also discovered a strange game called wallyball, and he loved it. He played often, and especially enjoyed three-man tournaments with Steve Johnson and Greg Palmquist – and yes, he was really good at that too.
Family was always a high priority for Tom. For years he would organize family golf outings and would create CDs or t-shirts to give to everyone at the tournament.
And, though he moved to Wisconsin, he never stopped being a die-hard Vikings fan!
Tom found great joy in cheering for his kids during their high school athletic careers. He and Debbie loved attending games and treasured the friendships they made along the way. More than once, after all the kids had graduated, Tom mentioned how strange it felt not seeing his friends from those years in the bleachers as often.
When the grandchildren began playing sports, Tom jumped right back into the stands, cheering loudly and proudly – always quick to say, “That’s my grandkid!” He also took great pleasure in heckling the refs. His phone was always queued up to play “Three Blind Mice” for what he considered a bad call in basketball, a move that amused those around him (and, of course, only encouraged him more). Tom was well known for his sarcastic sense of humor and no one could best him in a battle of one-liners!
Yet the greatest impact on Tom’s life had nothing to do with playing sports, family golf outings, or even the Vikings. It came in the year 2000, when he decided to follow Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. He was baptized two years later at the lake home of his dear friends, John and Shawn Baker, in the summer of 2002.
Tom had attended church for much of his life and would have said he was a Christian because he went to church and tried to be a good man. But in 2000, he realized that while those were good and admirable things, they didn’t give him the peace he saw in others – especially his wife. One day, he told her, “I want what you have.” She explained that to do that he needed to turn from his sins and dedicate his life to following Jesus and that the Bible says that if he believed in his heart and confessed with his mouth that Jesus is Lord he would be saved. From that moment, his life was changed.
That is why, though his family grieves, they also rejoice in his Homegoing.
Tom is survived by his wife, Debra Rombach; his children, Robert (Renae) Rombach, Michelle (Joe) Marek and Nicholas (Kelly) Rombach; his grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Zachary, Caleb, and Alexander (children of Robert and Renae); McKenzie, Isaiah, and Jeremiah (children of Michelle); and Hailea, Abigail, and Kacey (children of Nicholas and Kelly); as well as his brother, Steven (Geraldine); many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Estella Rombach; and his brothers, Michael and David.
A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at New Hope Lutheran Church in Grantsburg on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m., followed by a service at 4 p.m. and a chili feed – one of Tom’s favorite meals – afterward.
