Thomas Joseph Jaquet Jr. 

August 23, 1947 – March 6, 2022 

Thomas Joseph Jaquet Jr. unexpectedly passed away Sunday March 6, 2022 at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tom used to check the obituaries in the paper and say: Let’s see who made the “seniority list” which was a railroad term. You made the seniority list way too young, old-timer. 

Tom was born in Stillwater Oklahoma on August 23, 1947 to Thomas J Jaquet Sr. and Marjorie Sue (Martin) Jaquet. Tom was the oldest of three children. His family moved to Lakewood, Colorado when he was young. After he graduated from Alameda high school he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Shriver and had his first son, Daniel James Jaquet. Tom and Judy parted amicably and stayed in touch over the years. 

Tom spent 42 years of his life working hard for the Rio Grande Railroad, which became the Southern Pacific Railroad, and eventually the Union Pacific Railroad. His strength and work ethic were unlimited. While working at the railroad, he met the love of his life, Gayle Tufte. They were soon married and their son Robert Paul was born. Shortly before his passing, Tom and Gayle celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Tom was fortunate enough to retire at age 60 and enjoyed every minute of his retirement. Tom made friends everywhere he went because he was the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Tom loved tinkering with ignored, broken small engines on snow blowers, lawnmowers, chainsaws and everything you could think of. He would get them running “good as new” with just a few tools, a little time and elbow grease. WD 40 also helped! He also enjoyed refinishing furniture and selling it on craigslist or nextdoor, his favorite websites. Tom found some of the best deals on anything and everything he thought someone else needed (never himself). 

Tom had the biggest heart you could fit in Mankind. He was always thinking of others whether or not he even knew them. Tom wanted to make the world a better place than when he found it. He loved all animals, and it was not uncommon to see him working on his property with foxes, squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife hanging out nearby. 

Every property he lived on was lucky to have him as its caretaker. When pine beetles destroyed trees on his Evergreen property, he and his son Robert ripped the trees out by their roots and planted new ones in their place for future generations to enjoy and admire. He always “squared it away” and made everything he touched better.  

Tom loved visiting his friends and family for breakfast or lunch at their favorite local spot to catch up with their lives and their families’ lives every chance he could get. Tom got to know all the employees by name at our local Monument King Soopers, Home Depot, and Goodwill. He enjoyed just talking with them about their lives, joys and sorrows. If there was somebody who needed help, he would find some way to help them.  

Tom wanted his sons to be better men than he was. That’s one tall order that we are trying to live up to everyday. 

God Bless you Thomas Joseph Jaquet Jr. 

Rest in Peace 

Tom is survived by his wife Gayle, son Daniel and wife Marika, son Robert, sister Teresa Reinig and husband Richard, niece Sarah Foster and husband Darryl, granddaughters BriAnne Trout and husband Cody, Kayleigh Hernandez and husband Colton, and his great grandson Carson Hernandez. 

Tom was preceded in death by his father Thomas J Jaquet Sr, his mother Marjorie Sue Jaquet and his sister Marsha (Jaquet) McCaffrey. 

There was cremation. There will be no funeral. After a period of mourning, a celebration of Tom’s life will be held at his home in Monument, date to be determined. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tom’s great grandson, Carson Hernandez, for his education 529 account.