Thomas Brian Gondek

Tomas Brian Gondek (48) passed away at his brother’s home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho on July 9, 2008. Tom was born in Wisconsin on December 1, 1959. Tom enjoyed hunting and fishing while growing up with his dad and brother. He excelled in football and track and field, as a discus and shot putter. He worked in Alaska after high school graduation building cabins; fur trapping and hunting tin the Alaska wilderness. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He climbed Idaho’s tallest mountain Mount Borah with his brother in 1977. He also hiked with his brother within the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park catching trout within the park streams and mountain lakes, Tom loved his dog Cody- a Samoyed dog as a companion. He found Cody along the Wyoming Highway with a hurt right paw and raised him back to health. Tom worked along the Alaska coast in Nome, Alaska beach mining for gold. He later lived in Sequim and Port Angeles, Washington. For almost fifteen years. He drove taxi in Las Vegas and saved money on his job in order to camp within the Pacific Northwest to fish and escape the Las Vegas summer heat before he would return in fall and winter for cab driving. Tom’s passion was to enjoy the out of doors, wildlife, fishing, hunting, and caring for people. Tom’s last day was with his brother Mike hiking the Kootenai River gorge near Troy, Montana with a limit of rainbow trout. Tom went to be with the Lord and his father Robert Gondek. He leaves behind a brother Michael Gondek and his twin nephews Jesse and Danny Gondek of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, His mother Nancy Schilberg, stepmother Susan Gondek, uncle Gary Schilberg, aunt Carol Shilberg and five cousins Gale, John, Jean, Lynn and Judy all living in Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Texas. Tom had a big heart and was always at peace with the outdoors and its beauty. He will be sadly missed by everyone.