Thomas Eugene Culwell

Thomas Eugene Culwell, age 50, of Vandalia, MO passed away at 9:50 pm Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Friday, August 13, 2021 at Spencer Creek Baptist Church. Pastor Bob Hoehn will officiate. Burial will be in the Vandalia Cemetery following the service.

Visitation celebrating Tom's life will be held at 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, August 12, 2021 at the Waters Funeral Home.

Due to Covid-19 the family has asked everyone to remain respectful of the space of others. Please follow CDC recommended social distancing guidelines and wear masks when appropriate.

Thomas was born on April 12, 1971, in Mexico, Missouri the son of Wendell and Doris Ann (Trower) Culwell.

He was united in marriage to Melissa Culwell on June 30, 1995 at Spencer Creek Baptist Church in rural Vandalia where she survives.

Other survivors include one son, Riley Culwell of Vandalia; daughter, Kaylen Culwell of Vandalia; brother, Tim (Amy) Culwell of Lake St. Louis; two sisters, Cheryl (Terry) Pargeon of Mexico and Lisa (Mel) Wade of Long Beach, CA; mother-in-law, Linda Hicks of Vandalia; brother-in-law, Mark (Jill) Hicks of Hannibal; four nephews, Nathan, Kyler, Melvin and Clayton; four nieces, Haley, Harley, Maggie and Sophie; three great nephews, Kade, Barrett and Liam. Along with his family Tom is survived by his church family at Spencer Creek Baptist Church and many other loved friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Bill Hicks and nephew, Elliott Selby.

Tom graduated from Van-Far High School Class of 1989 and worked for the Vandalia Special Road District. Tom was an active member of Spencer Creek Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, he was committed both his faith and to his church and helped with every project or repair needed.

Tom was a husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. Anyone who knew Tom knew that he had a genuine heart for people and kindness to match. He loved his family and enjoyed coaching and watching his kids participate in sports and community activities. Tom was an avid story teller and often his delivery was more infectious than the story itself, which made Tom… Tom. He enjoyed tractor pulls and working with his John Deere 4010 tractor. His talent and hard work was remarkable. There was very little mechanically that he couldn’t fix or figure out as well as no piece of machinery he couldn’t run. Tom believed in community and believed in leaving things better than he found them. He spent countless hours volunteering his time with the Vandalia Area Fair, the Vandalia Khoury League couching youth ball teams and working on the ball fields as well as any other need the Vandalia community had. He was selfless, humble, inspirational, dependable and an unsung hero. Tom was the "behind the scenes guy" never asking for anything in return. He will be missed dearly by all that knew him.

Pallbearers will be Chris Kohl, Jim Hopke, Scott Bartison, Bruce Kuda, Michael Evans and Justin Hopke.

Honorary pallbearers are David Schambach, Dwane Rees, Kyler Selby, Nathan Pargeon, Melvin Wade and Clayton Culwell.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vandalia Khoury League or the Tom Culwell Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Waters Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Tom's memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com