John Tondl

Lt. Col John A. Tondl USAF retired (95) passed away on August 12, 2025. He is survived by his daughter Catherine A. Nealand and husband Greg of Laguna Hills, California, daughter Nancy M. Palmer of Mesa Arizona, grandchildren Christopher Nealand, Dr. Lee Palmer, Dr. Amanda Walsh, and great grandson Beckham Walsh. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Anna Tondl, sister Rose Marie Tondl, brother Leonard J. Tondl and his wife of 54 years Lucia A. Tondl.

John was born on February 6, 1930, in Ravenna, NE. Upon graduating from high school in 1947 in Schuyler, NE. he enlisted in the US Air Force. After basic training he attended Radar Mechanics School at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon completion he became an instructor in the Radar Mechanics School and later the Radiological Defense School. After a year tour in Korea in 1952 he was assigned to the 4925th Atomic Test Group at Kirtland AFB where he was promoted to Technical Sergeant and participated in Operation Upshot Knothole. During the operation he was stationed at Indian Springs AS, NV and was responsible for the decontamination of the sampling aircraft that flew through each nuclear detonation cloud.

In 1954 he attended Officer Candidate School at Lackland AFB, TX and upon being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant was assigned to Sandia Base. It was during this assignment that he met his wife to be, Lucia A. Baca, whom he married on August 17, 1957 at Sacred Heart Church. Shortly after his marriage he was assigned to the University of New Mexico to earn a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering which he received in 1960 and was subsequently inducted into the PHI Beta Kappa Society. He was then assigned to the Chateauroux Special Support Depot in France for 3 years. After a brief tour at Kirkland AFB, he was assigned in 1964 to the Air Force Institute of Technology where he earned a Master of Science in electrical engineering. In 1966 he was assigned a year tour at Da Nang AB, Vietnam as a Munitions Officer.

His subsequent assignments during the remainder of his military career were involved with nuclear weapons, electronics and resource management.

He retired from the Air Force in 1976 as a Lt. Colonel and later again attended University of New Mexico to earn a teaching certificate. He then taught electronics for 13 years at the Career Enrichment Center. He served as a volunteer in a number of capacities including 18 years on the Board of Directors of the Kirtland Federal Credit Union with 14 of those years as Chairman of the Board as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Credit Union League. Later he gave talks on credit and money management for consumer credit counseling services and prepared both Federal and State income tax forms for the elderly under an AARP program. As a member of Sangre de Cristo Catholic Community, he served as a Eucharist Minister, a Lector, and as a member of the budget committee.

He enjoyed fishing, bowling and racquetball and the many friendships he made in all 3 past times. 

A viewing for John will take place Tuesday, September 2nd at 4:30 PM, followed at 5:00 PM by a Rosary and Celebration of Life. Services will continue the following day, on Wednesday, September 3rd at 11:00am with mass at Sangre de Cristo Catholic Church. Lt. Col Tondl will be laid to rest at 2:30PM at Santa Fe National Cemetery where full military honors will be bestowed.