On the morning of Friday, June 2nd, Thomas was rushed to the hospital by his wife, Donna Harris, after an injury he sustained the weekend prior while him and his wife were moving caused a stomach ulcer to rupture. By the time he was admitted to the hospital, he had been throwing up blood for at least 24 hours, and was experiencing severe blood loss. The shock to his body from the blood loss sent him into acute liver and kidney failure, and due to the severity of the condition he was in, he was flown almost immediately via LifeGuard Air Ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. On his first day at St. Luke’s Hospital (Friday, June 2nd), due to the amount of ammonia being released in his body from the liver and kidney failure and overall shock to his body, Tom fell into a coma and never regained consciousness.

For eleven days countless nurses and doctors provided round-the-clock care and the most aggressive course of treatment possible, but due to the severity of his condition, Tom’s health only continued to decline. After eleven days of no improvements, and on the advice of all of his doctors, Tom’s family made the impossible and heartbreaking decision to transition him to comfort care.

Tom passed away quickly and painlessly on Monday, June 12th, at 6:55 PM, while surrounded by his wife and three children (Megan, Chris and Samuel).

Link to Tom’s obituary below:

https://www.behnerfh.com/obituary/ThomasTom-HarrisIII

Over the course of his life, Tom was many things to many people: he was a doting son, a protective brother/uncle, a loyal husband, an adoring father, and a generous friend.

Tom was a pillar of strength, courage and gallantry for every person in his life. He had the biggest of hearts, the silliest/most mischievous nature, and one of the most contagious laughs you’ve ever heard.

He was a fierce protector of any and everyone he loved, and would constantly go out of his way to make sure that love was known. He loved his family and friends with his whole heart and soul, and we all loved him back; all the world.

This tragic, sudden and unexpected loss has left a monumental hole in the hearts of everyone that loves him and were lucky to be loved by him. His wife and children send their sincerest and most heartfelt thanks to the network of support that they’ve received during this incredibly difficult time; including (but not limited to) him and his wife’s coworkers at the Maharishi International University, his daughter’s employers, his family and friends in California/across the country, his wife and children’s friends and family, but most importantly to every staff member at both Jefferson County Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital that fought to save his life.

The purpose of this fund is to serve three main purposes:

1) To cover the immediate costs associated with his passing (I.e cremation services)

2) To fund a celebration of his life. His family plans on holding a celebration of life gathering on what would have been his 55th birthday on Sunday, August 6th, 2023 (location tbd, more details to come). His family intends on including a Zoom aspect to his memorial so that Tom’s family and friends out-of-state will still be able to attend/speak.

3) To provide grief counseling for his wife/partner of 30 years, and for his three children (Megan, 27; Chris, 25; Samuel, 20)

Thank you for any contribution that you are able to provide to support Tom’s family during this incredibly difficult time.