Thomas R. Mihane, age 95, passed away on December 22, 2021. His wife, Marian D. (Peckham) Mihane, age 93, passed away 51 weeks to the day later on December 15, 2022. They both passed away at Heritage Estates in Gering.
A celebration of their lives will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 10:00 am at Reverence Funeral Parlor in Scottsbluff with Pastor Craig Collins officiating. Private family inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy and Gering American Legion Post 36 Funeral Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials in their names may be made to the Nebraska Wesleyan University Archway Fund or to PupPacks/CatPacks. The service will be livestreamed and recorded to Thomas and Marian’s obituary pages, both viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.
Thomas R. Mihane, the son of Robert Lee and Mae Mihane, was born October 4, 1927, in Arnold, Nebraska. The Mihanes moved to Scotia, Nebraska and this is where Tom spent his elementary years. In 1942 the family moved to Callaway, Nebraska and it was there that Tom graduated from high school. After graduation Tom left for service in the Navy. After “boot camp”, he was assigned duty aboard the troopship USS General William Mitchell. He was discharged in the fall of 1946 and entered Nebraska Wesleyan University. He was active in both music and athletics while at Nebraska Wesleyan. In 1950 he graduated and accepted a teaching and coaching job in Callaway, Nebraska. After two years in Callaway, he decided to move and accepted a job offer in Creighton, Nebraska as a teacher and coach. Tom made his final move to Scottsbluff in 1954 beginning there as a 7th grade social studies teacher and assistant football and track coach. He later became Dean of Boys 7-12 and then moved to the high school as assistant principal and then later principal. He ended his tour of duty in Scottsbluff as Assistant Superintendent in charge of instruction. During that time Tom served five other schools in District VI as a member of the Board of Control for school activities statewide. He retired in 1989 after spending 39 years in the educational arena.
Tom was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Panhandle Shrine Club, Nebraska York Rite of Freemasonry, Elks Lodge, Rotary Club, Phi Delta Kappa Association of Supervisor and Curriculum Development, American Association of School Administrators and Nebraska Council of School Administrators. He was a 50-year member of the First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff.
Marian D. (Peckham) Mihane was born October 1, 1929, in North Platte, Nebraska to Rich Sr. and Edith Peckham of the 79 Ranch in Brady, Nebraska. She grew up in the house her grandparents, Herman and Stella (Rich) Peckham, homesteaded. She attended schools in Brady and graduated from Brady High School as the salutatorian in 1947. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and received a three-year teaching degree. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. While at Wesleyan, she met her future husband, Tom Mihane, and they were married June 17, 1950 in Brady. She and Tom moved to Callaway, Nebraska where she taught first and second grades. The family moved to Scottsbluff in 1954, where she resided the rest of her life.
Marian was a 50 year member of the First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff and was a 60 year member of P.E.O. Chapter GA in Scottsbluff. She was also a member of the Wa-Han-Ka Extension Club with many of her lifelong friends.
She and Tom enjoyed traveling the United States and abroad, and liked golfing, the casino, playing bridge, attending Husker football games, and following their grandchildren’s activities. Most of all, they enjoyed spending summers at their cottage on Lake Ottertail in Minnesota.
They are survived by their daughters, Michele (Tom) Parks and Pamela (Jim) Barker all of Scottsbluff; their son, Michael (Stephanie) Mihane of Las Cruces, New Mexico; their grandchildren, Kristin (Scott) Petty and Kortney Parks both of Omaha, Caleigh (Nathan) Walker of Gering, Carling (Justin) Main of Lincoln, NE, and Kaitlin (fiancé Drew Van Liew) of Faywood, New Mexico. They are also survived by great-grandchildren, Elliot, Seneca, Maelyn, Estella, Daylian and Emalyn; and four nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Mary Lee Luzmoor. Marian was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Rich Peckham, Jr.