Thomas Pinion

Thomas J. Pinion, age 64, formerly of Hershey, Nebraska, and currently of Wolcott, Indiana, died Thursday, March 10, 2011 at IU Health Arnett, Lafayette, Indiana. Thomas was born June 6, 1946 in North Platte, NE to the late Lloyd and Lillie Pinion. He spent the first thirtysome years of his life living and working on his parent’s farm near Hershey. Thomas attended a one room school house “Nichols” from grades 1 thru 5. He graduated from Hershey High School in 1964. He attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in January, 1969 and a Master of Business Administration Degree in 1979. He also received a Master’s Degree in International Management from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ in 1974. In addition, he completed the American Banker’s Association Compliance school at the University of Oklahoma in 1987. Thomas joined the U.S. Army in March 1969, and served three years in the Army. He was a Counter-Intelligence Agent with the U.S. Army Intelligence branch. He served with distinction in Viet Nam, earning the Bronze Star and the South Vietnamese Army’s Outstanding Second Class Service Medal. Thomas served with intelligence units attached to the 1/5th Mechanized Brigade (QuangTri, Viet Nam) and the 101st Airborne Division (Hue, Viet Nam) while in Viet Nam. He attained the rank of Sergeant. Thomas married Linda F. Butrick in October of 1981 in Hershey, NE. They have three children - Jennifer (Travis) Hemen, Castleton, SD, Lori Pinion, Rensselaer, IN and Sara Pinion, Valparaiso, IN. Thomas and Linda divorced in 1995. Also surviving are two grandsons, Gavin and Landen Hemen, one brother, Robert (Patricia) Pinion, Hershey, NE and one sister, Ellen (Randy) Heil, North Platte, NE, several nieces and nephews, and his two close friends, Sherrie and Stacie. Thomas worked for Birdwood Products in North Platte, NE from 1964-1978. Beginning in 1981 he worked for the University of Nebraska Extension Service as a farm business consultant six years; the Hershey State Bank nine years and the Bank of Wolcott, Wolcott, Indiana from 1996 to present. Thomas was a past member of the Hershey Lions Club; was past chairman and member of the Lincoln County Nebraska Planning Commission; and a member of the Hershey United Methodist Church. Thomas enjoyed spending most of his off work time puttering around home and spending time on his computer. He was an A+ Certified Computer Technician and used those talents both at home and at his job with the Bank of Wolcott. Thomas loved to read and was interested in science fiction and history. Thomas also was an amateur carpenter. He enjoyed working with wood, and his greatest accomplishment was building a two-story home on his family farm near Hershey, in which he and his family lived for twelve years before moving to Indiana.

Thomas Pinion

June 6, 1946 - March 10, 2011