Thomas Severance

Thomas Craig Severance, who loved big ideas and the beautiful night skies of his beloved Colorado, slipped the surly bonds of earth on Feb. 12, 2015 to dwell among the stars he so treasured. Tom was born on November 14, 1950 in Madison, Wisconsin to Jim and Betty Severance. Tom and, his wife Cissy, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in December. They lived in and were renovating a 1900s era church-turned-schoolhouse-turned-residence in southern Colorado. He was shaped by his experiences as a young man growing up in Wisconsin, Texas, and Montana where he developed his love for music and literature, the outdoors, night skies, and big ideas. These passions led him to settle with the love of his life and his young family at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado. Through his life’s journey, Tom traveled in many circles. He offered a welcoming presence and he left an indelible imprint on all he encountered. He was a part of the Denver poetry movement in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was a lover of the outdoors; climbing, camping, and fishing with many. He was a founding member of the 29th Avenue Poker Club and could sniff out a bluff a mile away. Tom loved bringing long evenings and good times to anyone willing to part with their money. He was the glue that held so many together, never shying away from an opportunity to throw a party. Tom, an amateur astronomer who enjoyed sharing the stars with others, moved with Cissy, after 30 years in Denver, to the foothills of the Spanish Peaks to take advantage of the spectacular dark skies. His concern about wildfires in the urban/wildland interface led him to take action on a local level, seeking grants and enlisting neighbors to assist in creating fire breaks for improving resident and firefighter safety. Traveling in his camper with Cissy was one of his favorite activities, seeing new sights and visiting old friends along the way. Along with his wife, Tom is survived by his son Aaron, who lives with his wife, Ashley, and three sons, Seamus, Ian, and Teagan outside of Denver; his daughter Kristen, who lives in Texas with her husband Kenneth and her son, Michael. Kristen’s son Marc lives in Colorado, and her daughter, Mara is attending college in Arkansas. Tom is also survived by his mother, Betty, and four siblings: Laura Blair, Jennifer Severance, Holly Lawson and Bill Severance. A natural poet, environmentalist and lover of life, Tom will be missed by those whose life he touched. Circa 1980 Tom Severance it matters little where the plays of life lead those seldom avenues of glory and frequent alleys of strife are equally the road of Illusion impartial Time wielding his double-edged sword-of-years turns his withering gaze on all who’d dare tread the road makes the future for an instant present counts his price in years – in the final act brings all paths to one end. If you are inclined to make a donation in Tom’s name, he would suggest: Huerfano County Fire Protection District PO Box 1204 Walsenburg CO 81089