Thomas Wilbur Boots

Oct 18, 1960 -

Aug 25, 2023

Thomas W. Boots went home to be with the Lord on Aug. 25, 2023. His wife and partner of 32 years, Colleen Reeves, was by his side. Tom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020 and had recently experienced a recurrence. Tom was born in Racine, Wis., on Oct. 18, 1960, the fifth child in a family of nine – eight boys and one girl. When Tom was nine months old, the family moved from Wisconsin to Alaska to begin the adventure of their lives.

Growing up in a big family in 1960s and 70s, Anchorage offered many opportunities for exploration, exploits, experiences and occasional mayhem, usually involving the outdoors. Tom attended Turnagain Elementary School, Romig Junior High, and was a standout hockey player at Service High School, graduating in 1978.

After high school, Tom became a butcher and spent his career working for Proctor's Market, Carr's Quality Centers and Fred Meyer. Customers knew him for his kindness and humor. He was an expert sausage maker, game processor and cook and loved to share it all with family and friends.

In 1991, Tom met and fell in love with Colleen Reeves. In 2000, they were married at the Alaska State Fair, with their friends Jim and Sherry Parker as witnesses.

There are many tales of the escapades of Tom Boots and some of them are even true. Suffice to say, if you spent time with Tom Boots you had some stories to tell: His family had a saying that he was the cat with nine lives, and he was on his 12th. Tom made lifelong friends, and many have reached out to share how much his friendship meant to them. He was a helpful and dedicated brother and a much-loved uncle. Tom read and researched voraciously and could fix or build anything, "MacGyvering" solutions to every kind of problem. He took quiet satisfaction in cooking and serving meals for many years as a volunteer at the Downtown Soup Kitchen.

Tom was a true Alaskan. He and Colleen and their many friends and family explored the state by boat, snowmachine, three-wheeler and airplane. He loved to ride his motorcycle, fish the Kenai River and sit around the campfire at his remote cabin near Mount Susitna. Tom was happiest flying, which he called "the most euphoric thing I ever have done." When Tom received his cancer diagnosis, he had just one item on his bucket list: He wanted to pilot a plane again. Tom bought a Piper J-3 Cub, the same model he had flown in the 1980s, got recertified to fly, and spent as much time in the sky as the weather and his health allowed. Even in the last month of his life, he was able to fly to the Kenai River and to his cabin, which brought him great joy.

Tom leaves behind his beloved wife, Colleen; siblings, Mike (Lynn) Boots, Pat, Dan (Kris) Boots of Kenai, Alaska, Rick (Suzanne) Boots, Ed (Kelly) Boots of Idaho and sister Mary Boots; nephews, Josh (Clarissa) Boots, Kevin (Michelle) Boots and Tom (Hillary) Boots and Jack Boots; niece, Marcey (Eric) Mraz; as well as great-nieces and -nephews; Colleen's five siblings; and numerous nieces and nephews in Illinois.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and June; brothers, Glenn and Mark; and nephew, David. Donations in Tom's name can be made to the Downtown HOPE Center Soup Kitchen.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Sept. 8, 2023, at 3 p.m., at Holy Family Old Cathedral. The celebrant will be Father Leo Walsh. Family and friends may celebrate Tom's life from 4:30-8:30 p.m., at The Lakefront Hotel in the Spenard Room overlooking Lake Hood.