Thomas C "Tom" Bouffiou

MCFARLAND - Usually in the background, always there for anyone who asked, the quiet observer and big adventurer, Tom Bouffiou, age 78, left the world for his next adventure on Sunday, November 9, 2025, one day short of the U. S. Marine Corps birthday, leaving behind a grief-stricken family and many friends.

Thomas was born December 1, 1946, to Russell and Mary Louise (Lewis) Bouffiou, the oldest of eight kids. He was part of the first graduating class at McFarland High School and quarterback of the football team, a team that went from winning no games in year one, to a championship their senior year.

His country called its young men to go to Vietnam, but he did not want to be U.S. Army so in the spring of 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines. Soon he was on his way to Vietnam. Seven months later, he was blown up by an IED that killed everyone around him. After 14 months of rehab, he was crushed that the Marine Corps wouldn’t take him back to active duty. Tom loved the Vietnamese people and thought he could help bring peace to that country. In 2009 he and Terri closed the circle by going back to Vietnam to build houses there with Habitat for Humanity, an experience he enjoyed and recommended to everyone. Twice more he visited Vietnam, marveling at how beautiful the country was and how different from the war years.

Tom married Terri Davis in June 1975. Together they raised five children. Tom maintained that five kids were not that difficult to raise, as they took turns being “teenage” difficult. It could have been rough, he remarked, if they all ganged up on us at once. His children are Alex (Tanya), Anthony (Theresa), Alison (Dennis) Loftheim, Anna and Andrew (Angie).

His children taught him “the beautiful game” of soccer. He watched a million games, coached another five thousand and collected jerseys for the national team of most of the countries he traveled to - at last count about 50 jerseys.

Tom loved speed and took long motorcycle trips annually. Sometimes the kids traveled with him, and he made special pegs and seatbelts for the motorcycle so short young legs could balance on back. He saw every state in the continental U.S. on his motorcycle.

He also loved water. Whether swimming at the high school pool, lane 9 with his buddies, diving for lobsters and abalone off Catalina Island, fishing in Crescent Lake or Lake Michigan, or cruising the world, he did it all! He and Terri took at least one cruise a year, usually for one to two months at a time. They reached every continent except Antarctica.

In a speech about why his grandpa was his hero his grandson said, “Tom almost died in Vietnam but didn’t, that’s why I’m here.” Tom loved having a bunch of grandchildren and enjoyed helping them “thwart” their parents’ rules. His grandchildren are Anthony, Corbin (Starla) Lily, AJ, Max, Lily, Olivia, Davis, Georgia, Jackson, Noah, Lincoln and Nico; special grand, Katie; step-grands, Brandon and David; and great granddaughter, Hazel.

Tom graduated from Edgewood College and taught K-8 kids in both Wisconsin and California for nearly 25 years.

Survivors include Terri and his kids and grands; sisters, Laura Jacobson, Mary Jo Graylow, Lydia, Kitty and Shelley Bouffiou; brothers, Russ and Mike; sister-in-law, Toni (Bryan) Stolarik; brothers-in-law Brian (Joed) and Blaine (Ginny Ashmore) Davis.

Tom was kind and modest, the least vain person imaginable, a wonderful chef who loved to travel and was willing to help anyway he could. Tom would hate this obituary extolling his virtues. “Just live it. You don’t need to brag. They will know.” And we do!!

Buff - you are the wind beneath our wings!!

A Celebration of Life will be held at MAPLE TREE SUPPER CLUB, 6010 US-51, McFarland, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Memorials may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Dane County or a veterans support group of your choosing. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420