Thomas Charles 'Opa' Reihman

Thomas C. “Opa” Reihman, 74 of Bozeman, passed away on April 21, 2014 in Reno, Nevada while on vacation. He was born on June 12, 1939 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to John F. and Johanna (Kippenhan) Reihman. Opa was raised in Amana, Iowa and graduated from Amana High School. He attended Iowa State University and received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. He completed graduate degrees at the University of Denver (M.S.) and the California Institute of Technology (Ph.D.). Upon completing his degrees, he spent three years as a Senior Research Engineer at the Battelle Northwest Laboratory in Richland, WA. Upon leaving Battelle, he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA. While at Virginia Tech he spent his summers working at a NASA research facility where he worked on heat shields for the Space Shuttle program. In 1974, he joined the Montana State University Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department where he taught until his retirement in 2004. He married Peggy Popenhagen (Oma) in Amana on August 20, 1960. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2010. While in Denver working on his M.S., his daughter, Christine, was born. His son, Michael, was born in Pasadena, California. After settling in Bozeman, the family opened the Montana Woolen Shop in 1975. Opa was a quiet, caring man with a great sense of humor. He enjoyed golf, hunting and especially loved his family and friends. He was a bargain hunter and enjoyed fantasy football, watching sports on television, raising llamas and date night with Oma every Tuesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. He also enjoyed traveling all over the United States and journeying to Europe, China, Maui, and cruises to Alaska. He especially enjoyed traveling to Reno, Nevada to visit his daughter, Christine, and her family and explore new restaurants and gamble. Opa is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Joan. He is survived by his wife; Peggy, of Bozeman, sister Mary Ann (Craig) Reihman-Clark of El Macero, CA and his children; Christine (Gregg) Willison of Reno, NV and Michael (Janice Kuhn) Reihman, of Bozeman, grandchildren; Kami Reihman of Lawton, Ok, BreeAnna (Bryan) Benz, of Bozeman, Julia Willison of Reno, NV and Brandon Willison of Reno, NV and great-grandchildren; JayDen Reihman-Enis, and Amerie Reihman-Enis. Visitation 9:30 am to 10:45 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am, Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Interment following at Sunset Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a scholarship that will be made in Tom’s name to a student studying mechanical engineering at Montana State University. Please make checks payable to the MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 172750; Bozeman, MT 59717-2750.