Thomas Joseph Witterholt

Thomas Joseph Witterholt, 58, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Thomas is survived by the loves of his life, his wife, Misty and daughter, Avery; his parents, Thomas A and Judith Witterholt of Dubuque, IA; his sister, Kim Julson of Cookeville, TN; as well as two nephews; a niece; and many other extended family members and friends who will miss him deeply.

Born on April 20, 1966, in Dubuque, Iowa, Thomas graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School and went on to earn several degrees and accolades throughout his life. He graduated from East Texas A&M University (Commerce) with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in 1988. He then received a Master of Aviation Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1995 and a Master of Military Operational Art & Science from the USAF Air Command and Staff College in 2003 and he was chosen to attend the USAF Air War College in 2006. Thomas served his country in the United States Air Force for 23 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2011.

Thomas and Misty met and married while Tom was stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida and they then moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they had their beloved daughter, Avery in 2007. They later moved to Montgomery, Alabama which was Tom's last duty station. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2011 where Tom worked in many roles as a military contractor. He was most recently working as a Senior Program Manager for Redwire Space and had proudly received his PfMP Certification which requires 8,000 hours of portfolio management experience.

Thomas was a proud member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), a life member of the Air Force Association (AFA) and was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Misty and Avery loved to tease Tom that whenever Avery started a new activity, Tom was sure to start lessons not long after. It was his complete devotion to Avery that drove him to start ice skating lessons and golf lessons and karate. The karate lessons that Avery started at age 3 in Alabama reignited Tom's love of martial arts which started earlier in his Air Force career and led to him opening his own karate school, Thunderbird Martial Arts Academy, when the family retired to Albuquerque. Tom immersed himself in being the best martial artist he could be, ultimately reaching the rank of 4th degree Master Instructor black belt in Tang Soo Do. He loved to teach and celebrated every student who came through his doors for 10 years. Later, Tom renewed another love, golf, when Avery decided to try out for her high school golf team. They spent many a weekend together playing golf in preparation for one of her tournaments.

The family loved to travel together and were always planning their next adventure. Whether they were trying to complete Misty's bucket list of visiting all the National Parks or taking a Disney cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean or trying to visit all the Hawaiian Islands or finding their next Spring break destination they had the best time in their little family of three. Tom had just begun planning a trip for Misty and himself to visit the Christmas markets in Europe next winter when he was taken from them far too soon.

There are no words to express how much Thomas will be missed by those who knew the truly good man he was.

Tom's parents hosted a celebration of his life in Dubuque, IA on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

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Thomas' funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00am on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 12500 Carmel Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM. A reception/visitation will be held immediately following mass in the church community room.

If you are called to make a donation in Thomas' memory, his family suggests The Knights of Columbus United in Charity Fund: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/donate/index.html 

Inurnment will take place at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado in June 2025 with full military honors.