Tom passed away February 15, 2022 at Lutheran Hospice in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He was born August 4, 1931 in Overland, Missouri. Tom was a lifelong professional musician, a vocalist whose public performances spanned from singing an impromptu song as a youngster at a banquet in Overland (one of many places his family lived in Missouri) to major venues, recordings, and television.

After high school in Thayer, he attended the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri for a year before transferring to Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, majoring in voice, and graduating in 1953. It was at Central that he met the love of his life, Willa Yoder. They were married in January 1955, a partnership that lasted the rest of Tom's life and produced three children.

Tom served in the Air Force at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas. Following his discharge in mid-1955, he and Willa moved to Bloomington, Indiana where Tom earned his master's degree in 1957 at Indiana University as a tenor in the opera program. He soon went professional with the Municipal Opera in St. Louis, the Indianapolis Starlight Theater, and the National Chorus of America. His career led him and Willa to New York City where they lived in Manhattan, Queens, and later across the Hudson in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Tom sang for many years in New York with groups including Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and on television on The Perry Como Show and The Jimmy Dean Show. With a jazz trio initially called The Group, later renamed The New Group, he sang on several albums and even appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

In 1968, the family, now with three children, relocated to Denver, Colorado, where Tom taught music for a year, followed by a career in radio broadcasting which led to a move to Canon City, Colorado and several years as a DJ on KRLN radio. Then came an opportunity back in the Denver area to work with Carousel Productions writing, producing, and singing jingles for various local businesses.

In the late 1970s, the family moved to Arvada, Colorado. Tom did some solo work during those years, as well as singing with numerous groups, including the Colorado Symphony Chorus and the Olinger Mortuaries company groups. Later in life he spent considerable time composing various types of music – he was adept at orchestration – his last gigs were as a piano tuner, an occupation in which he excelled due to his extremely
accurate ear for pitch.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Willa Kampman and three children Karen Panter (with husband Mark) of Laramie, Wyoming; Eric Kampman (with wife Thea) of Albany, California; and David Kampman of Denver. Four grandsons Scott Panter, Evan Panter, Lucas Kampman, and Oliver Kampman, as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends. Tom was preceded in death by his uncle and aunt O. L. and Grace Koch, with whom he lived through his teen years; his mother Mabel Kampman and his older sister Jean Ullmann.

Donations in Tom's name can be made to the Wild Animal Sanctuary , 2999 County Road 53, Keenesburg, CO 80643 or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022, 11:00 am at Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, 4425 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.