Thomas Broderick Obituary (2021) – Bonners Ferry, Id, IL

Thomas R. Broderick

Born: September 1, 1935; Chicago

Died: February 24, 2021; Bonners Ferry, Idaho

BONNERS FERRY, Idaho – Thomas R. Broderick of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021 at the age of 85 at his home with his wife Connie, the love of his life by his bedside.

He was born on September 1, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois 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, Washington. After high school, he joined 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 to serve in the Illinois National Guard. Eventually Tom bought the family business Tom Broderick Truck Sales.

He was very successful in motorcycle and off-road racing. It won the world’s largest off-road race, the Mint 400, as best vehicle and ninth overall in Reno, Nevada, in 1976.

He was a member of the Tebala Shriners of Dixon and Rockford, Illinois, the Dixon Elks Club, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Lee County Pheasants Forever. Tom loved the outdoors and spent countless hours in the wild hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.

After his retirement, Tom and Connie moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 2000. He loved showing his cars and he especially liked his Lincoln Continentals. One of Tom’s best car show memories was 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 have enjoyed attending many auto shows in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana over the years and have even returned to the Amboy Depot Days Car Show.

Tom leaves behind his wife, Connie of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; one sister, Elsa Dietz of Princeton, Illinois; and very special friends David and Jenny Erickson of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Brad and Ann Apple of Dixon, Illinois.

Tom preceded his mother Mary Ellen Schmidt in death; his father, Thomas H. Broderick; Stepmother Irene S. Broderick and Sister Margery Broderick.

Rest in peace Tom, we will miss you. A celebration of Tom’s life is scheduled for Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy, IL.

Instead of flowers, please send a donation to Auburn Crest Hospice, 6541 Main Street, Suite 2, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.

Online condolences at www.thejonesfh.com

Published by Sauk Valley News on June 15, 2021.