Thomas Jacob Guilfoyle

Thomas Guilfoyle, our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and dear friend passed away on April 8th, 2024 at his home just outside of Valley, Nebraska. Tom was born in Eddyville, Nebraska on January 4th, 1940, to William “Bill” Guilfoyle and Elizabeth “Elsie” Zimmerman Guilfoyle. At the age of two, his family moved to the Cheyenne, Wyoming area. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1958 and continued wonderful lifelong friendships with many of his classmates. Tom enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an accomplished trial attorney. He was successful in his field and his passion for the law was apparent in his work. He did his undergraduate work and obtained a JD from Creighton University in 1965. He was admitted to practice in the State of Colorado and the State of Nebraska. He was also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court for the District of Nebraska, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Tom was a member of the Omaha and Nebraska Bar Associations. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska Association of Trial Lawyers from 1986 through 1999 and was a member of the American Bar Association and a member of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section and the Litigation Section. For approximately 35 years, his practice has primarily involved the defense of professionals, including architects, engineers and accountants. He had been involved in a number of cases that established new law benefiting design professionals in the State of Nebraska. Tom always had a zest for life and loved to enjoy all of the good things life had to offer; good friends, good food, good cigars, good books, and (before he stopped drinking), he also loved to relax with a good martini. He was charismatic, quick-witted, fun-loving, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was passionate about so many things in his life. For a time in his younger years he enjoyed drawing and was really talented. This inspired his son to become involved in art, which became Bill’s passion. The thing that Tom was most passionate about in life though was his family; his children and his three grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He delighted in having his family visit him at his home on the lake and especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren swim and fish. His presence was engaging, and his smile would light up a room. Tom will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his former wife Janet Guilfoyle Stibor, the mother of his children; his two sisters, Kathleen Finnerty and Rosemary (John) Bond. Tom is survived by his two children, Bill Guilfoyle of Kansas City, Kansas, and Mary “Missa” (Bob) Waldo of Allen, Nebraska, grandchildren; Joseph, Jacob, and Emma Waldo, sister Janice (Ed) Eatmon of Cheyenne, Wyoming, several cousins and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, Nebraska at 11 AM on Saturday April 20th. Lunch immediately following at the same location. Private interment. Memorials to Valley Hope or the Nebraska Association of Trial Lawyers.

Thomas Jacob Guilfoyle

January 4, 1940 - April 8, 2024