He attended John Burrough's School and The Blake School, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Tom was proceeded in death by his birthfather Thomas Cooper Bates, a WWII Army Air Corps Navigator, who died before Tom was born. His sister, Carol Anne Punch, and brother, Rick Taney Punch, are also deceased.
He has a living sister, Barbara Anne Pratt and brother-in-law Jim Pratt, in Jordan, Minnesota. They have two children Brandon Pratt and Jennifer Owens.
He is survived by his wife Debra Anne Punch living in Simi Valley, CA.
Thomas has two living children Daniel Thomas Punch of Phoenix, Arizona, and Melissa Anne Punch Nechev, of San Diego, CA, and his step children Jason Williamson of Culver City, CA, Jessica Williamson of Los Angeles, CA, Thomas Williamson of Palm Springs, CA and Daniel Alvarez of Costa Mesa, CA.
He has six grandchildren: Adam Daniel Punch and Dylan Stone Punch in Phoenix, Arizona; Jeremy Stefan Nechev and Sylvie Jade Nechev, in San Diego, CA, and Alexa Rose Williamson and Jacquelyn Bryce Williamson in Los Angeles, CA.
He worked thirty-six years in dialysis product sales and retired in October 2011. His hobbies were traveling around the world, reading and enjoying his beloved dog, Phoebe.
Donations would be appreciated in lieu of flowers: Special Olympics.
"May you always do for others and let others do for you.” – Bob Dylan
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