Thomas L. “Tom” Sullivan, 78, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, October 30, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He had suffered a broken hip earlier and had been hospitalized in Topeka.

He was born April 26, 1925, at the Axtell Hospital in Axtell, KS, the son of Thomas W. and Elsie M. Hill Sullivan. He grew up in Axtell and graduated from Axtell High School in 1943. Following high school, he worked in Seneca for a tree-trimming business.

On March 8, 1945, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and sent to the Asia-Pacific Theater in the Philippines and Japan. He served in Company “L,” 20th Infantry Regiment in the military police. He received the Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. He was discharged January 30, 1947.

Upon his return to civilian life, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad laying wire for signals and then for the U.S. Forestry Service for two years in Idaho. He recalled helping fight one forest fire for three weeks which required 350 “smoke jumpers.” After returning to Seneca where his parents lived, he worked for the Slack Brothers laying brick. He helped take care of his parents. Due to his health problems, he was admitted to Crestview Manor care home in Seneca on October 10, 1979.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and a former member of St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. Tom was an avid sports fan. He followed the Atlanta Braves baseball team, the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team, and the St. Louis Rams football team.

There are no immediate survivors. He was preceded in death by his father on January 25, 1979; his mother on April 21, 1983; and his brother Patrick Sullivan on June 22, 1979.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 AM Saturday at St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with military honors by the R.R. Hendricks Post #214 of the American Legion of Axtell. A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Friday at Crestview Manor care home.

Memorials may be given for the Activity Fund at Crestview Manor, 808 N. 8th St. Seneca, 66538.

Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is handling the arrangements.