Joe Flom

TORRINGTON, WYO..... No services are planned for JOE FLOM, 97, who passed away on January 18, 2006 at the Torrington Community Hospital. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home. Thomas Joseph Flom was born on August 30, 1908 on a farm near Williamtown, North Dakota the son of Nels and Carrie (Vold) Flom. Joe was taken out of school after only an elementary education to work on the family farm. He soon became interested in testing parachutes for Jahn Aerial Life Saving Apparatus Company out of Minnesota. No one really knows how many jumps Joe made, but from newspaper clippings, it is estimated to be well over 100. Joe would walk out on the wing of a bi-plane and jump off, testing the new ?life saving apparatuses?. His most famous jump was onto the ground of the world trade fair in Canada. Joe married Aggie Sathre on May 10, 1934 at Grand Forks, North Dakota where he was working for the railroad at the time. The couple had two sons; Gary born in 1935 and David in 1936. Joe was then drafted into the US Navy and served honorably as a parachute rigger aboard the carrier USS Matanikau in the pacific. After his discharge, Joe worked as a bar tender until that bar caught fire and he was forced to find other employment. So he moved his family ; which included a new daughter at this time, Vicki born in 1946; to Augusta, Montana where Joe purchased the Lazy B Hotel, Bar & CafÚ. He operated this from 1947 until 1951 when the family moved to Loveland, Colorado. But while in Augusta, Joe served the community in many ways, foremost was that of a Boy Scout Leader of the local scout troop. It was in 1949, that under Joe?s leadership, the scout troop traveled to a National Jamboree in Pennsylvania. Joe worked in construction in Colorado where he built several houses, some of which were featured in the Denver Post home and garden section. He owned and operated Mile High Stamping until it was sold. Joe also worked as a welding shop foreman for Farmers Tool in Denver for years. He and his wife Aggie settled in Boulder, Colorado where Joe worked at the family car wash. Aggie died after a long struggle with Alzheimer?s disease and Joe moved to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming to be closer to his son and daughter. Joe had been active all of his life. He worked long hours every day of the week by his own choice. He could do just about anything he set his mind to doing. Joe developed the skill of welding and his artistic talents were in demand. He is survived by his son, Gary Flom and his wife Janice of Torrington, Wyoming; his daughter, Vicki Pomeroy and her husband Ron of Ft. Laramie, Wyoming; five grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, and his wife, Aggie; he was preceded in death by his son David.

Joe Flom

August 30, 1908 - January 18, 2006