Thomas Stuart Colvin, 75, formerly of rural Cambridge, died August 25, 2022, at Green Hills Health Care Center. Tom fought a courageous battle with the effects of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Tom will be cremated with a celebration of his life on September 9 in the Community Room at Green Hills. The family will be present from 10 a.m. on, with a brief program at 11, followed by lunch. We ask that you please wear a mask. Interment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel at a later date.
Tom was born to Charles Darwin and Miriam (Kimbal) Elizabeth Colvin on July 17, 1947, in Columbia Missouri. He grew up living in a several Iowa towns and graduated from North Fayette High School in 1965. Tom knew that he wanted to become an Agricultural Engineer as early as the 4th grade. He continued his education at Iowa State University graduating with a BS in 1970, a masters in 1974 and his PhD in Agricultural Engineering in 1977. His education was interrupted by joining the Air Force and serving from 1970 to 1972. He taught English in Saigon and served as the company clerk in Duluth. He was the recipient of the US Air Force Commendation medal in 1971.
Tom worked as a coop student while obtaining his BA. As grad student he was a part-time manager of the ISU Research Farm. In 1977 He began working for United States Department of Agriculture's Ag Research Service. He also was a non-tenured professor at ISU so that he could work with graduate students and visiting professors from around the world. His achievements include designing and development of the first computer program to help farmers manage tillage and residue cover for erosion control. Tom published the first paper to predict residue coverage based on tillage. He also did some early research on yield monitors. Tom was doing no-till before it was the thing to do.
Tom farmed in rural Hawkeye from 1970- 1988. He farmed Oxford Farms in rural Cambridge from 1983 until the present. On September 11, 1982, he married Sonya Peterson Brandhoij at the little Brown Church in Nashua.
While working for the USDA, Tom did research in conservation tillage and precision Ag. He did presentations worldwide and had many papers published. He contributed to Wallace's Farmer, Successful Farming, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Ag Engineering, American Society of Ag Engineers. He also had TV appearances.
Tom possessed a practical intelligence, and the focus of his thinking during his long and distinguished career was how farmland might be made more productive while scrupulously caring for both the long- term use of the land and ecological requirements of the region in which the land is located.
Tom was a member of American Society of Engineers. He served as president of the Iowa chapter. He was national president of Alpha Epsilon. Tom was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He received The Young Engineer Award in 1986 and Engineer of the Year 2004.
Tom was a drummer with the ISU Marching Band during his college years. He also played with the alumni band. He was known to bring his drum for Christmas programs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huxley where he sang for years. Tom also sang with the community chorus. Tom served on various committees at church and on the Madrid Home Board.
Tom was a sociable, caring person. This made him a good representative of American agriculture in the other countries that he visited. It also meant that one of the great pleasures of life, especially in his later years, was to enjoy a good meal with good friends. Good food and good conversations were for him, the rewards for a good day's work. He had the heart of a farmer.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Sonya, his son Christopher (Helen) Colvin and grandson Will, all of Ames and his daughter Kristel (John) Saxton, of Cora1ville. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Patricia (Terry) Stumme of Albert Lea, Minnesota, his in-laws, Barbara Colvin of Hawkeye, Troy (Mary) Peterson of Humboldt, Roy (Kim) Peterson of Hermann, Missouri, Heidy (Daryl) Vosberg of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Lory (Roy) of Callahan, Florida, and many nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many friends including Betsy and Tom Gardner.
No flowers please. Memorials can be made to ISU Foundation 4-H scholarship fund for the Thomas S. Colvin Agricultural Engineer scholarship that is established there. Family can also do that for you.
Tom was born to Charles Darwin and Miriam (Kimbal) Elizabeth Colvin on July 17, 1947, in Columbia Missouri. He grew up living in a several Iowa towns and graduated from North Fayette High School in 1965. Tom knew that he wanted to become an Agricultural Engineer as early as the 4th grade. He continued his education at Iowa State University graduating with a BS in 1970, a masters in 1974 and his PhD in Agricultural Engineering in 1977. His education was interrupted by joining the Air Force and serving from 1970 to 1972. He taught English in Saigon and served as the company clerk in Duluth. He was the recipient of the US Air Force Commendation medal in 1971.
Tom worked as a coop student while obtaining his BA. As grad student he was a part-time manager of the ISU Research Farm. In 1977 He began working for United States Department of Agriculture's Ag Research Service. He also was a non-tenured professor at ISU so that he could work with graduate students and visiting professors from around the world. His achievements include designing and development of the first computer program to help farmers manage tillage and residue cover for erosion control. Tom published the first paper to predict residue coverage based on tillage. He also did some early research on yield monitors. Tom was doing no-till before it was the thing to do.
Tom farmed in rural Hawkeye from 1970- 1988. He farmed Oxford Farms in rural Cambridge from 1983 until the present. On September 11, 1982, he married Sonya Peterson Brandhoij at the little Brown Church in Nashua.
While working for the USDA, Tom did research in conservation tillage and precision Ag. He did presentations worldwide and had many papers published. He contributed to Wallace's Farmer, Successful Farming, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Ag Engineering, American Society of Ag Engineers. He also had TV appearances.
Tom possessed a practical intelligence, and the focus of his thinking during his long and distinguished career was how farmland might be made more productive while scrupulously caring for both the long- term use of the land and ecological requirements of the region in which the land is located.
Tom was a member of American Society of Engineers. He served as president of the Iowa chapter. He was national president of Alpha Epsilon. Tom was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He received The Young Engineer Award in 1986 and Engineer of the Year 2004.
Tom was a drummer with the ISU Marching Band during his college years. He also played with the alumni band. He was known to bring his drum for Christmas programs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huxley where he sang for years. Tom also sang with the community chorus. Tom served on various committees at church and on the Madrid Home Board.
Tom was a sociable, caring person. This made him a good representative of American agriculture in the other countries that he visited. It also meant that one of the great pleasures of life, especially in his later years, was to enjoy a good meal with good friends. Good food and good conversations were for him, the rewards for a good day's work. He had the heart of a farmer.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Sonya, his son Christopher (Helen) Colvin and grandson Will, all of Ames and his daughter Kristel (John) Saxton, of Cora1ville. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Patricia (Terry) Stumme of Albert Lea, Minnesota, his in-laws, Barbara Colvin of Hawkeye, Troy (Mary) Peterson of Humboldt, Roy (Kim) Peterson of Hermann, Missouri, Heidy (Daryl) Vosberg of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Lory (Roy) of Callahan, Florida, and many nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many friends including Betsy and Tom Gardner.
No flowers please. Memorials can be made to ISU Foundation 4-H scholarship fund for the Thomas S. Colvin Agricultural Engineer scholarship that is established there. Family can also do that for you.
Thomas Stuart Colvin, 75, formerly of rural Cambridge, died August 25, 2022, at Green Hills Health Care Center. Tom fought a courageous battle with the effects of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Tom will be cremated with a celebration of his life on September 9 in the Community Room at Green Hills. The family will be present from 10 a.m. on, with a brief program at 11, followed by lunch. We ask that you please wear a mask. Interment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel at a later date.
Tom was born to Charles Darwin and Miriam (Kimbal) Elizabeth Colvin on July 17, 1947, in Columbia Missouri. He grew up living in a several Iowa towns and graduated from North Fayette High School in 1965. Tom knew that he wanted to become an Agricultural Engineer as early as the 4th grade. He continued his education at Iowa State University graduating with a BS in 1970, a masters in 1974 and his PhD in Agricultural Engineering in 1977. His education was interrupted by joining the Air Force and serving from 1970 to 1972. He taught English in Saigon and served as the company clerk in Duluth. He was the recipient of the US Air Force Commendation medal in 1971.
Tom worked as a coop student while obtaining his BA. As grad student he was a part-time manager of the ISU Research Farm. In 1977 He began working for United States Department of Agriculture's Ag Research Service. He also was a non-tenured professor at ISU so that he could work with graduate students and visiting professors from around the world. His achievements include designing and development of the first computer program to help farmers manage tillage and residue cover for erosion control. Tom published the first paper to predict residue coverage based on tillage. He also did some early research on yield monitors. Tom was doing no-till before it was the thing to do.
Tom farmed in rural Hawkeye from 1970- 1988. He farmed Oxford Farms in rural Cambridge from 1983 until the present. On September 11, 1982, he married Sonya Peterson Brandhoij at the little Brown Church in Nashua.
While working for the USDA, Tom did research in conservation tillage and precision Ag. He did presentations worldwide and had many papers published. He contributed to Wallace's Farmer, Successful Farming, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Ag Engineering, American Society of Ag Engineers. He also had TV appearances.
Tom possessed a practical intelligence, and the focus of his thinking during his long and distinguished career was how farmland might be made more productive while scrupulously caring for both the long- term use of the land and ecological requirements of the region in which the land is located.
Tom was a member of American Society of Engineers. He served as president of the Iowa chapter. He was national president of Alpha Epsilon. Tom was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He received The Young Engineer Award in 1986 and Engineer of the Year 2004.
Tom was a drummer with the ISU Marching Band during his college years. He also played with the alumni band. He was known to bring his drum for Christmas programs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huxley where he sang for years. Tom also sang with the community chorus. Tom served on various committees at church and on the Madrid Home Board.
Tom was a sociable, caring person. This made him a good representative of American agriculture in the other countries that he visited. It also meant that one of the great pleasures of life, especially in his later years, was to enjoy a good meal with good friends. Good food and good conversations were for him, the rewards for a good day's work. He had the heart of a farmer.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Sonya, his son Christopher (Helen) Colvin and grandson Will, all of Ames and his daughter Kristel (John) Saxton, of Cora1ville. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Patricia (Terry) Stumme of Albert Lea, Minnesota, his in-laws, Barbara Colvin of Hawkeye, Troy (Mary) Peterson of Humboldt, Roy (Kim) Peterson of Hermann, Missouri, Heidy (Daryl) Vosberg of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Lory (Roy) of Callahan, Florida, and many nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many friends including Betsy and Tom Gardner.
No flowers please. Memorials can be made to ISU Foundation 4-H scholarship fund for the Thomas S. Colvin Agricultural Engineer scholarship that is established there. Family can also do that for you.
Tom was born to Charles Darwin and Miriam (Kimbal) Elizabeth Colvin on July 17, 1947, in Columbia Missouri. He grew up living in a several Iowa towns and graduated from North Fayette High School in 1965. Tom knew that he wanted to become an Agricultural Engineer as early as the 4th grade. He continued his education at Iowa State University graduating with a BS in 1970, a masters in 1974 and his PhD in Agricultural Engineering in 1977. His education was interrupted by joining the Air Force and serving from 1970 to 1972. He taught English in Saigon and served as the company clerk in Duluth. He was the recipient of the US Air Force Commendation medal in 1971.
Tom worked as a coop student while obtaining his BA. As grad student he was a part-time manager of the ISU Research Farm. In 1977 He began working for United States Department of Agriculture's Ag Research Service. He also was a non-tenured professor at ISU so that he could work with graduate students and visiting professors from around the world. His achievements include designing and development of the first computer program to help farmers manage tillage and residue cover for erosion control. Tom published the first paper to predict residue coverage based on tillage. He also did some early research on yield monitors. Tom was doing no-till before it was the thing to do.
Tom farmed in rural Hawkeye from 1970- 1988. He farmed Oxford Farms in rural Cambridge from 1983 until the present. On September 11, 1982, he married Sonya Peterson Brandhoij at the little Brown Church in Nashua.
While working for the USDA, Tom did research in conservation tillage and precision Ag. He did presentations worldwide and had many papers published. He contributed to Wallace's Farmer, Successful Farming, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Ag Engineering, American Society of Ag Engineers. He also had TV appearances.
Tom possessed a practical intelligence, and the focus of his thinking during his long and distinguished career was how farmland might be made more productive while scrupulously caring for both the long- term use of the land and ecological requirements of the region in which the land is located.
Tom was a member of American Society of Engineers. He served as president of the Iowa chapter. He was national president of Alpha Epsilon. Tom was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He received The Young Engineer Award in 1986 and Engineer of the Year 2004.
Tom was a drummer with the ISU Marching Band during his college years. He also played with the alumni band. He was known to bring his drum for Christmas programs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huxley where he sang for years. Tom also sang with the community chorus. Tom served on various committees at church and on the Madrid Home Board.
Tom was a sociable, caring person. This made him a good representative of American agriculture in the other countries that he visited. It also meant that one of the great pleasures of life, especially in his later years, was to enjoy a good meal with good friends. Good food and good conversations were for him, the rewards for a good day's work. He had the heart of a farmer.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Sonya, his son Christopher (Helen) Colvin and grandson Will, all of Ames and his daughter Kristel (John) Saxton, of Cora1ville. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Patricia (Terry) Stumme of Albert Lea, Minnesota, his in-laws, Barbara Colvin of Hawkeye, Troy (Mary) Peterson of Humboldt, Roy (Kim) Peterson of Hermann, Missouri, Heidy (Daryl) Vosberg of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Lory (Roy) of Callahan, Florida, and many nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many friends including Betsy and Tom Gardner.
No flowers please. Memorials can be made to ISU Foundation 4-H scholarship fund for the Thomas S. Colvin Agricultural Engineer scholarship that is established there. Family can also do that for you.
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