More detail on this person: Former Fairbanks resident Thomas L. (Tom) Bollaert, 57, took his
final flight on April 20, 2005, after his courageous battle with brain cancer, surrounded by wife
Ann, daughter Amy and friends at Providence Extended Care Center in Anchorage.
Tom was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Goshen, Ind., to Frank and Betty Bollaert. He first arrived in Alaska
in 1965, stationed at Fort Richardson, prior to service in Vietnam. He fell in love with Alaska, and
returned twice with the military. When he retired from the military in 1985 as a chief warrant
officer III, he made Alaska his home. A Fairbanksan since 1982, he had moved to Anchorage in 2003.
After the military, he went to work for Air Logistics of Alaska as a helicopter pilot, flying all
800 miles of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. During his career he worked with the Bureau of Land
Management fighting fires, helped with the Exxon Valdez oil spill and flew pipeline security. During
his career he received numerous recognitions and awards.
Daughter Amy commented, "In a life characterized by bravery, he was the bravest of us all during his
fight with cancer."
Tom loved riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, flying and playing golf. He enjoyed spending
quality time with his youngest grandson, Ayden. He was a skilled craftsman who could fix anything.
He took great pride in his designing and building projects. He was also a Mason and a Shriner.
Tom is survived by his wife, Ann; son, Tom Jr.; daughters, Amy, Tammy and Teresa and their children;
brothers, Ronnie and Kent; and sisters, Sharon, Pam, Debbie and Dawn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made in Tom's name to an education
account for his grandson Ayden Cammaran at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
A celebration of life was held in Fairbanks.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 06/15/2024
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