In Remembrance

Tom was born on August 29th, 1957 in Duluth, Minnesota to his parents Edith and James. He spent his younger years with siblings, Ted, Ter, Tim, Mina, and Jennifer. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, and moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona with his grandparents Thore and Sandra Bjorklund. He graduated from Lake Havasu High School and worked at McCulloch chain saw in their quality control department. Later he worked for Hydro Dynamics, the textile company and he worked for his friend Rick at Desert Steel. In 1981 a drunk driver T-boned the car he was riding in which devastated him, He was in recovery for nearly 2 years and his injuries contributed to his health decline in later years. He returned to Duluth for a couple of years staying in the family home until he went back to Lake Havasu with his brother Ter and resumed playing in the Band I-90 with his long time friend John. When He wasn’t playing Music He enjoyed riding dirt bikes with his friends and exploring the desert. He came back to Duluth in the early 90’s and formed a small company with his friend Kari Nordstrom building electronic testing equipment. He also created animated greeting cards that everyone enjoyed that showed off his artistic and tongue in cheek sense of humor that would make you smile.

Tom was an accomplished guitar player, performing in the Havasu area before forming the very successful rock and roll cover band I-90. They played all over southwestern Arizona and southern California. When he moved back to Minnesota, he was lead guitar player with “Kim Solem & the Electric Spurs” along with his brother Ted. Tom helped pen some of the bands original songs and helped produce their album “In Just One Night” garnering airplay in the midwest. The band opened for numerous national touring acts including Diamond Rio, Confederate Railroad, and Michelle Wright. Tom described his most fun gig was sharing the bill with “The Crickets,” Buddy Holly’s band. After  the Spurs, Tom played in other local groups In-Chahoots, Bushwack and as a duo with Melody Hartman. His smooth work on the Les Paul or the Rickenbacker were always welcome when sitting in with other musicians and bands.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Arthur James Heinonen, step father James Van Camp, grandparents Thore & Sandy Bjorklund, George & Mary Heinonen, and his favorite aunt, Judy Miller.

Tom will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He left a musical impact on his family, friends, and community. His legacy will live on forever in our hearts.