Rodney Tompkins Obituary

Funeral Services For Rodney R. Tompkins, age 85, of Wayne Grace Lutheran Church Wayne, Friday 10:00 a.m. July 18, 2025 Visitation Wayne City Auditorium Wayne, Nebraska, Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. July 17, 2025 Arrangements with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne Interment at First Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altona will follow the reception at the Wayne City Auditorium at 3rd and Pearl Streets, Wayne, Nebraska. Rodney Reed Tompkins was born May 25, 1940, in Winnebago, NE, to W. Reed and Violet (Olson) Tompkins. He was baptized at the Presbyterian Church. When he was very young, the family moved to a farm west of town where he spent his youth. He attended country school through 8th grade. The family moved to a farm just outside of South Sioux City, NE. He was confirmed in 1954 at First Lutheran Church and graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1958. He worked at a packing house that summer before entering Wayne State College in the fall. He attended two years and took courses intending to be an architect. There he met his future wife, Loreta Damme. They dated for three years and were married on April 16, 1961, at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Altona, NE. The couple lived in Omaha for several months where he worked for Vakoc Construction. They then moved to Lincoln for a year where Rod was a ditch digger for the gas company. Feeling unfulfilled in this role, they moved back to Omaha, and Rod found work as a salesman and drafter for Millard Lumber. Later, he was a housing supervisor for Ted Reeder Construction and factory manager at World Homes in Gretna. They lived in Omaha for 15 years, and their three children, Dana, Jill, and Nathan were born there. In 1976, he decided to strike out on his own, and the family moved to South Sioux City, NE, where he took over Tompkins Construction from his brother. In 1978, he decided that building modular in a factory-controlled environment was the way of the future and formed Heritage Homes of Nebraska along with other investors. For 40 years, his wife, Loreta, decorated the model homes. Heritage Homes are now sold in an 8-state region. In 1984, the company expanded to include Heritage Industries, manufacturing bank ATM kiosk enclosures. These kiosks are sold all over the USA, Puerto Rico, and Hong Kong. Rod was also a land developer in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, California, and North Dakota. Rod was always an entrepreneur. Among his many other ventures are Homestead Homes of America and Curriculum Advantage, a software company for schools. Between Heritage and Homestead Homes, thousands of families live in new homes. He and his wife also opened Riley's Cafe and Convention Center in Wayne. He received Nebraska's Small Businessman of the Year Award in 1996. He and his wife were named Wayne's Citizens of the Year in 2008. Rod became a pilot in his 50's and enjoyed flying his airplane. In 2005, he and his son, Dana, built their own turboprop airplane at a factory in Oregon. Rod also enjoyed motorcycle rides with his group of friends. He and Loreta traveled to Europe several times and spent the winter months in the Florida Keys. They took several cruises; however, Rod especially enjoyed the times they went sailing in the Virgin Islands. He captained a rented 52-foot sailing yacht and gave orders to his "crew" of friends who managed the sails. He became a certified sailing captain after having read a book. Rod and Loreta enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their lake home near Pilger, NE. Rod was invited by the governor to attend the commissioning of the nuclear submarine USS Nebraska in Groton, CT. He sponsored the Wayne State Rugby Clubs, who for many years won national tournaments in their division. Rod served 2 four-year terms on the UNMC Board of Counselors. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the Wayne Rotary Club, a 32° Mason, and a Shriner. Rod enjoyed gardening, especially planting beautiful roses and lilies. However, he didn't like to weed – that was Loreta's job. Rod always wore a fedora hat when outdoors, summer and winter. It became his "trademark". Rod encouraged his family, employees, and friends in their endeavors - wanting to see others succeed. His door was always open to listen, give guidance, and to help whenever he could. He was an avid reader of history, health, and self-improvement books. When he found one especially useful, he would order six copies and give one to a friend or employee whom he thought would benefit from it. Rod was proud of all of his accomplishments while never having finished college. He had a natural instinct for business. He never fully retired - cutting back from 60 hours per week to 40 hours in his 80's. Rod had been a runner and weightlifter for many years and was always aware of a healthy lifestyle. Doctors were baffled when he was diagnosed with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis in 2023. Rod suffered a terrible fall in the summer of 2024. He tripped and fell, hitting his face on the concrete sidewalk. His health began to deteriorate after that. Rod passed away on July 8, 2025, at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, NE. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Loreta; sons Dana (Sonya) Tompkins of Wayne, Nathan (Irena) Tompkins of Omaha, and daughter Jill (Doug) Brodersen of Wayne; brothers Mike Tompkins and Brad (Kathy) Tompkins of Melbourne, FL, sisters Linda (Conrad) Johansen of South Sioux City, NE, and Valarie (Paul) Donaldson of Dakota Dunes, SD; grandchildren Riley (Josie) Brodersen, Ezra (Samantha) Brodersen, Jonah (Grace Heithold) Brodersen, James Tompkins and Sarah Tompkins, and one great granddaughter, Penny, with another great grandchild on the way; nieces, nephews, many cousins, aunts Audrey Olson of Emerson, NE, and Donna Magnolo of Phoenix, AZ, and brother-in-law, Robert Nagel of Loveland, CO. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, two nieces, one nephew, and sisters-in-law Sandy Tompkins and Joanne Nagel. Pallbearers are Riley, Ezra, and Jonah Brodersen, James and Sarah Tompkins, and David Donaldson. Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Miller, Terry Meyer, John Vakoc, Greg Kallhoff, Doug Nelson, and Liz Sharer. Rod was the father of three and a father-figure and friend to many. Memorials can be made to the Tompkins family for later designation. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Rodney R. Tompkins, please click here to visit our sympathy store. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Rodney R. Tompkins, please click here to visit our sympathy store. Hasemann Funeral Home