Dr Thom Serrin Van Boskirk

Please come celebrate his life on October 12, 2025, at 4:30pm at the Vine United Methodist Church, 2002 4th Ave, in Scottsbluff, NE. Reception will follow at the West Nebraska Arts Center, 106 E 18th St, Scottsbluff, NE.

Thom was born on September 15, 1944, in Omaha to Homer and Faye (Messman) Van Boskirk. He achieved his Eagle Scout rank at age 16 and was the President of his 1962 graduating class at Omaha Central High School, where he was the lead trumpet in dance band and orchestra and was active in swimming and keeping his brother Ray out of trouble. He graduated from Hastings College in 1965 and from the University of Nebraska, Dental School in 1969. In his last year of dental school, his cousin Marcia (Messman) O’Donovan set him up on a blind date with her friend LaRita (Rumbaugh). This began Thom and LaRita’s 56-year love story. Thom was smitten with Marcia’s spunky friend who “finished her entire steak at dinner.” Thom and LaRita were married on June 28, 1969, and moved to Gering where Thom set up a dental practice. They had two daughters, Shea in 1973 and Shar in 1975.

Thom’s dental practice was more than a vocation; it was part of his lifelong commitment to serving others. He cared for thousands of patients over his 45-year career, including the disadvantaged, shut-ins and uninsured, at times settling-up in kind or when the harvest was in.

Thom was committed to Scouting, serving as Scout Master for Troop 3 in Gering and in leadership roles for multiple national and international jamborees. He was a Wood Badge trainer and an executive board member for the Longs Peak Council, later the Adventure West Council. He was awarded the Silver Beaver award in 2019, and he and LaRita were recognized with the Scouting Distinguished Citizens Award in 2022.

Thom was also active in Kiwanis serving as President of the Scottsbluff Club and Lt. Governor of the Rocky Mountain District. He Co-Chaired the Scottsbluff United Way, was President of the Hasting College Alumni Board, initiated the Clean Communities Foundation in Gering/Scottsbluff and helped bring the welcome statue to the Gering Civic Center.

Thom studied, taught, and witnessed God’s Word throughout his life, in small group studies, while mountain climbing with friends, via monologues to patients in the dental chair, and as an active member of The Church at Bryant, West Way Christian Church, and the Vine Methodist Church, all in Scottsbluff, Central Church of Christ in Gering and an associate member of the Allenspark Community Church in Allenspark, CO and The Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, in Estes Park, CO. Thom had just finished day 273 of Father Mike’s Bible In a Year Podcast – a study he was doing with LaRita and Shar -- the day before he died.

Everyone knew Dr. Thom for his sense of humor, twinkling eye, and ability to be “fantastic, but getting better.” He golfed year-round; “The frozen ground makes your ball roll farther!” And if he wasn’t on the Gering Golf Course in his yellow golf cart, he was zipping through town in his white Suzuki. He loved this valley. And learning the histories and connections of everyone here often extended a quick errand into a community history adventure.

Thom’s drive and commitment to a job well done carried into his hobbies and free time. He summitted all 53 of the peaks over 14,000 feet in Colorado, many of them multiple times. He ran the Bolder Boulder 6 times. He hit a hole in one, won the Gering member/guest golf tournament and league championships. He climbed Kilimanjaro, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Whitney and Long’s Peak (for the 7th time on his 70th birthday). He built barns, garages, roofs, furniture, canoes, dune buggies, and antique cars.

Of all the summits Thom accomplished, nothing made him prouder than raising two girls to do everything he could. He loved traveling, golfing, mountain climbing, remodeling old houses, and working on cars with them.

Thom is preceded in death by his parents Homer and Faye, his infant brother Lee Warren, his parents-in-law Cortley and Florence Rumbaugh and his sister-in-law Marcia (Wilson) Rumbaugh. He is survived by his dearest LaRita, his daughters Shea and Shar (Court), his brothers Ray (Linda), Bob (Deb), his sister Marla Boyd (Bob), two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, Contributions in Thom’s memory may be made to Festival of Hope, P.O. Box 377, Scottsbluff, NE 69363

Scouting America for Camp Laramie Peak, The Van Boskirk Staff Building, 10 S Beltline, Scottsbluff -to pay online (https://pci.jotform.com/form/252796550051155

http://bit.ly/439Tugp)

or the Omaha Central High School Foundation 1111 N 13th St, Ste 318, Omaha, NE 68102.

Friends may visit www.dugankramer.com to view his obituary, share stories and condolence with the Van Boskirk family.  The services for Thom have been entrusted to the Dugan Kramer Funeral Home.