Thomas Powell Obituary

Tom Powell, aged 70, of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on April 24, 2017. Tom is survived by his daughter Jennifer King, son-in-law Robert, grandson Preston, and former spouse Linda (Flanders) Powell. He is also survived by another daughter, Danielle Tornowski and her mother Linda Lopez. His surviving siblings are: Jessica Ingstad, Judy Sobol, Janet Powell, John Powell, Martha Hodgson, and Scott Powell and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Elizabeth "Betty" Powell of Muscatine, Iowa.

Tom was born on December 2, 1946 in Muscatine, Iowa. He lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Grand Junction, Colorado; Canon City, Colorado; Manhattan, Kansas; Phoenix, Arizona and moved back to Colorado Springs in 2015.

He served in the Air Force from 1969-1973 at Hahn AFB in Germany, and traveled extensively throughout Europe. After being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant, he moved to Colorado where he began his career in Criminal Justice. Tom held administrative positions in the prison system in Canon City. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at the University of Iowa. After earning his Master's Degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, he became the assistant to the Colorado Director of Corrections. He worked as a case worker for Child Protective Services and was also a mentor with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Tom left the penal system to pursue a teaching career. He taught at several colleges in the Phoenix area and then became Director of Administration at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona where he was a professor and taught Criminal Justice classes until he retired.

Tom's passions included riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, earning a private pilot's license, teaching, writing humor articles (many of which were published), and socializing at the American Legion. He was an avid sports fan; tennis, wrestling and football in high school; skiing, bowling and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Denver Broncos. He was a loyal friend to the group known as "The Amigo's": Francis (Nick) Nickle, John Thomas, Miles (Hardy) Dial and Frank Schwartz. He also had many other friends and enjoyed interacting with people, considering a stranger 'just a friend he hadn't met yet.'

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Memorial Gardens, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Home Front Cares, a local charity organization supporting veterans.