Thomas R. Broderick
Thomas R. Broderick of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2021, at his home with his wife, Connie, the love of his life, at his bedside. He was 85.
A celebration of Tom’s life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. A hosted reception will follow the service at Mugsy’s Restaurant.
He was born Sept. 1, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., to Mary Ellen Schmidt and Thomas H. Broderick. Tom was married to Connie A. (Melendrez) Broderick for 58 wonderful years.
He attended high school in Vancouver, Wash. After high school he enlisted in the Washington National Guard. His father wanted Tom to be part of the family business, so he rode his motorcycle across the country and continued in the Illinois National Guard and eventually Tom purchased the family business of Tom Broderick Truck Sales.
He was very successful at motorcycle and off-road racing. He won the 1976 Mint 400 World’s Greatest Off-Road Race as Best Appearing Vehicle and ninth overall in Reno, Nevada. He was a member of the Tebala Shriners of Dixon and Rockford, Illinois, Dixon Elks Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Lee County Pheasants Forever.
Tom loved the outdoors and he spent countless hours in the wilderness enjoying hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. After his retirement, Tom and Connie moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 2000. He enjoyed hobbies of showing his cars and he was especially fond of his Lincoln Continentals. One of Tom’s greatest car show memories was in 2014, when he was a three-time winner at the Silverwood Car show in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, winning Best of Show, first place – street rods post-1936, and best interior. Connie and Tom enjoyed participating in many car shows over the years in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and even returned to Illinois for the Amboy Depot Days Car Show.
Tom is survived by his wife, Connie of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; a sister, Elsa Dietz of Princeton, Ill.; and very special friends David and Jenny Erickson of Bonners Ferry, and Brad and Ann Apple of Dixon, Ill.
Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ellen Schmidt; his father, Thomas H. Broderick; stepmother, Irene S. Broderick; and sister Margery Broderick.
Rest in peace, Tom, you will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Auburn Crest Hospice, 6541 Main St., Suite 2, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.