Happy Birthday, Tom!!!

A new year, a new decade, but the same AWESOME Tom.

Here are just a few memories, wishes, and greetings from some of your friends and family.  I wish there was a way to get a hold of everyone, because I know you've touched many (MANY) lives.  As you journey into the new decade, with plenty of great new adventures ahead, you can know that there are lots of people out there who love you.

Make it a great day, and LIFE.

Love always,

Robin

From Dad

Hi Tom,

A big Happy Birthday for your first 30 years.

Wow!  Has time flown or what? 

Think of all the things you have accomplished and done so far.  I remember when you: were learning your lines in the car for a grade school play and it was less than a 10 minute drive; playing the “Little Prince” in community theater; being Mr. Magic and taking 3^rd place in the County Fair on your first time out; having a part in Scrooge and when exiting the stage you jump into the top of the door header cracking the wall board; taking one of the lead parts in a musical production in Wheaton without any prior singing lessons. And then there was  karate, gymnastics, band and more band, and the role playing that you and your friends did, the Christmas Madrigal dinner,  falling asleep on stage during your performance of 12 Angry Men. You had a horn solo during your high school graduation and it was great how the whole audience clapped and cheered when your name was called as you stepped on stage to accept your diploma.  I’m sure you remember wearing a “kilt” to Prom.  You had the opportunity to do some travelling while doing your investigation concerning the Prisoner Camps in Illinois during World War II. From your Eagle Scout service project, you were able to win a full scholarship to the local Community College.  Your Scouting trips have all been adventures.  Your first was your hiking trip and you were the youngest and smallest, but you kept on going, blisters and all. There was the boundary waters,  white water rafting (remember the drive and the sign you made for the other cars following us), water skiing, rock climbing and repelling, mountain biking, biking during a storm, plane rides, snow boarding, and sky diving.  Not to mention all the thrill rides at the various amusement parks that you attended.  The fun you had at the wave park where, as a young growing man, you would position yourself in front of the young teenage girls just right before the wave would hit. Kind of a contrast to your days at EFY where you finally decided it was time to cut your hair before coming home. There was the radio station where you interned and had the opportunity to DJ for a day or so.  Your involvement in the film club at the U of I where with your guidance your film project won the award.  (Speaking of college, how could someone miss their own graduation because they did not make sure to know the one day it was on.) Your travels around Australia during your Mission, your trip to England to visit Uncle Craig and Aunt Judy and your trip to Mexico to learn Spanish.   Can anyone forget Tom’s lighted bed and fog machine?

Always with a big smile and a laugh, you tackled everything.  Doing tricks, trying something crazy – like borrowing the truck to practice making donuts in the snow, and just attempting to experience life.   However, this is not all you were about; there is very private and spiritual self.   There is that special person who cares and loves others.

Bottom-line:  You have had a very rich and full life to date, with a wide range of experiences.   You have a loving wife that compliments and completes you.  Continue to enjoy life and make it a great “life” for yourself and your family to be.

Happy Birthday to the Polish Prince,

Love Dad

From Taylor

Thomas Quincy Rowzdower Konie. 
I added the two names to make it seem like a fancy formal message. People don't get enough of those these days. Anywho! I understand it is the joyous time of the year where you were born. The world sure became a better place that day 20 years ago for sure. You are 20 right? Oh. We count birthdays by years, and not maturity level? Hahaha, I kid! I kid! If that was the case I would be 6 forever.
Well some of my favorite memories are when we would go running around the parents house, pretending we were in some epic battle or RPG; Also talking about Video Games, or even playing them! All the good times had watching you and Robin Beat Mario Galaxies. Then there are all the Improv shows. Thanks for being so supportive! Really, there were lot's of fun times, to many to go over everything in fact. So I will just end this now with this simple note. I'm glad you married into the Family buddy! You are a great addition to our already crazy bunch. Love ya! And have an awesome Birthday!
-Taylor McLelland

From Justin

While Tom was living at my place, he started getting into The Office. In one episode, Jim encased Dwight's office supplies in Jello and returned then to his desk. Tom decided this was an excellently worthy practical joke and bought a small trash can and several dozen boxes of red and green sugar free Great Value gelatin. He mixed up several gallons of jello-juice, splashed it around the kitchen (I still find spots of it now and then) and encased someone's shoes in it and put the whole thing in the fridge.
The Jello didn't set up very well. But Tom had a lot of fun and I still enjoy licking jello spots off my cupboards. Oh, the sweet memories. Happy Birthday, Tom!

-Justin Jaynes

From August and Mary Lou

Tom, my nephew, is the oldest son of Gey and every once in awile I would arrange time for Tommy to spend with me to just do something fun. Somewhere, around the age 10 - 12 yrs old, Tom spent the entire day with me and we spent most of the time on Oak Knoll golf course. 
For his age and experience he did quite well. He hit the ball good somethings and not so good other time. However the best part of the game for me (at least) was all the talking and laughing that took place between us. Tommy always grinned, smiled broadly and laughed, no matter what the outcome of his shot. and my shot, we he thouht I should be playing Jack Nickalus (how fortunate for me -eh!)
Tommy did have one request and that was to drive the electric cart, which he did without causing any damage or libality. I was so proud of him and his grin could not any brighter. I truly felt like his Uncke and one that was special to him.
Truthfully, I think of Tom and Robin often and when I do, my day with Tom on the golf course, always comes to my mind or at least some part of. 
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TOM, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. 

MUCH LOVE, 

UNCLE AUGUST AND AUNT MARY LOU

From John

Well, what to say rather then "Happy birthday to the best brother that I have ever had!  Enjoy yourself. Your only thirty once."


-John Gilbert

From Katie

Happy Birthday Tom!! So glad to have you in the family. I knew you would fit right in when I saw you dancing it up in a corn field. :) You are awesome! I hope your Birthday is a spectacular day filled with lots of fun and lots of love! You totally deserve it! :) Love ya!

-Katie Goudie

From Kat

One of my favorite memories of Tom is the thanksgiving that neither of us had family in town for. We sat at my apartment playing video games, bored out of our minds, when suddenly my family showed up at the door. They drove from Boise to spend the day with me, and of course Tom got to enjoy their company too! We ate at Beto's, and played at jump-on-it (Where I broke my toe). Needless to say, having my family show up was a nice surprise, but having a friend like Tom to spend the day with was a huge help when I was feeling homesick.


-Kat Syphus

From Braedon

Tom,
I don't really have many memories since I really have only known you for like 10 months now. But in that expanse of time, I have come to appreciate that you genuinely care for people, especially your family. Every opportunity it seems that you have, is taken to listen to other peoples lives and their stories.
-Braedon Goudie

From Carly

One of the first times I really hung out with Tom was on a trip to Chicago for a singles conference. We had a decent time at the activity but the real fun began after hours. We spent the evening goofing off and annoying the hotel managers. My favorite part of the weekend, besides getting to know Tom, was Tom entertaining our group with his version of the Gay Cowboy. It was so funny. You'll have to ask him to show it to ya. After this weekend Tom and I became good pals and he helped to keep me sane while I lived in Peoria with his sense of humor and his love of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (I will always be thankful for both!) Happy Birthday to my favorite Drug-dealing Gay Cowboy. Miss ya mister. 


-Carly Burton

From David

So yeah, a time that I remember of Tom that stuck really well in my head. I'd have to say it was during the week before he left for the MTC and we were driving along Wilson St. on our way over to the church building, and Tom made a little confession to me. "Dave, I didn't realize that you are such a cool guy. I wish I had took time to get to know you better." Then just like that, off to Utah and Australlia for his mission he went. Two years later I think he had forgotten about what he said, because we didn't hang out and do things together that much.

Of course, a better memory was when I was 14 and Tom drove us over to the parking lot of J.B. Nelson Elementary school. It was so cool that he let me drive the car then, any which way that I had wanted. Good learning experience that was, even as I ended up putting the lights on a nearby house's windows several times and probably aroused some suspision in that neighbor. Tom took control again and we went home. It was really fun, better than go-karting!!


-David

From Tiffany

One of my favorite Tom memories is actually my first memory of him- and ironically enough, Tom wasn't even there! It was of him in Robin's "Invisible Man" video. For some reason, watching Tom totally eat it while running made me like him instantly, and I had a hunch even then that he and Robin would end up together. Tom- I'm glad you're part of the family and I hope you have a great 30th Birthday!! Make sure Robin takes you to Texas Roadhouse so you can ride in the saddle!!


Enjoy!


-Tiffany McLelland

From Dawn

Happy Happy Birthday Tommy Dear.  Happy days will come to you for all year.  If I had one wish then it would be a happy happy birthday to you from me.  Did you know I use to lead the Primary music?  (Have Robin sing that part to you.) Well anyway I hope you have a great birthday.  We really feel like you are not only a son but a good friend.  We have enjoyed all the time we have spent together with you and Robin.  We appreciate all you do for her as well.  Most of all for loving her and being her best friend.  You are a two peas in a pod and that makes life so much fun.

 Love you lots! 

-Dawn McLelland

From Kim

You know what I like about Tom....that he is so fun to hang around with,for instance, Tom is a crazy magician that has card tricks up his sleeve that leave me wondering. Tom is also the perfect lunch date. Tom is fun to house hunt with in waaay unaffordable mansions. Tom gave me a childhood full of memories playing board games, which are such great memories since no one will play them with me anymore! Tom (and Robin!) will also dress up like a chicken and dance to the chicken dance if you ask him nicely.Tom, when I hang out with you its a guarantee to smile:) Happy Birthday Bro! 


-Love, Kim

From Mom

What can I say? Tom was a good kid. He liked to have fun and try lots of different things. He has always been a good sport in many ways. Even when Dad thought he was just doing something to make Mom happy - like the Irish dance class she signed him up for. 

When he was five, there was a talent show at church and Tom and Mom decided to get some magic tricks and turn Tom into a magician. He went on to win $50 at the Kane County Fair for his act a few years later. But the magic went out of the act when he realized that it wasn't really magic. The first tricks he learned, he didn't really realize they were tricks. It was so cute to see his eyes light up in surprise when the "magic" worked when practicing for that first performance.

The rest of the pictures I pulled together speak a bit for themselves. Max is the first picture because Tom rode his bike a few blocks to the neighbors house when we decided that a border collie would be a good choice for the family. He reviewed the pups and picked out Max. He came home to report that he found the dog who should join our family.

A few other notes: The Royal Marine Baracks pic was from our trip to England when Aunt Judy and Uncle Craig were there. Tom's spring break was a week earlier than Chris and Dave's so he went ahead and visited for the week. We connected on the weekend and did a few things together before he came home to go back to school and we stayed on for our week. The DNA Tower is in Perth when Dad had the opportunity to visit during a business trip. Tom said that it was good to see Dad and all but, no offense intended, it was strange because Dad was a part of life he left behind for his mission. The Toga party pic is funny because Tom was at U of IL after his mission as one of the world's oldest juniors living in the dorm. He was older than his RA even. The girls, of course, adored him - they would knock on his door in the middle of the night. Good thing for them he felt more like their big brother and didn't take advantage of the situations they put him in.

Tom's laugh has always been infectious. He was well liked in school. He liked to act. He played a winged monkey in the Wizard of Oz amomg other characters through the years at the community theater as well as in high school. An acting class at the park district got him started. He didn't have any trouble learning his lines and occasionally found himself cramming for them at the last minute and getting them right for performance. In high school, as one of the 12 Angry Jurors, most people don't know that he fell asleep during one scene during a performance. The others covered for him and he wasn't "out" for long, but it created an few interesting moments. Gotta ask him about that one. I think a knife was involved but no one got hurt.

In the medly pic, I love the one with Dave in their baseball uniforms. They played baseball more than any other sport.

We had Tom in karate class for a little while when we still lived in the city until we saw the other little boys being encouraged to be really agressive. Swim lessons were every summer and through the year. There was an indoor pool nearby for lessons in the winter. We moved to the "burbs the summer Tom entered first grade.

Tom went to soccer camp for a week one spring at the high school and liked it up to the last day. They had a big awards ceremony and only a couple groups received trophies. There was nothing handed out to everyone else to recognize them for their efforts, not even a certificate of participation as a souvenier. Tom was upset by that. He might not have been so upset if he'd been in one of the groups that did get recognition. Anyway, he didn't want to play soccer after that.

Although they both loved gymnastics, it was only available at the private club on the same nights as Scouts and we ended up choosing Scouting over the boys gymnastics. I wish we would have been in a school district with a boys gymnastics program because they probably would have pursued it and been great at it.

  

 

 -Mom Konie

From Billy

Dear Tom,

Happy Birthday! My first memory of you is seeing a video of you dancing to a Clay Aiken song. While my outter manly man was going "glad that was you dancing in that video and not me," the inner real me was saying "I have total respect for you for having fun and being able to enjoy life!" I knew you were a great and amazing guy the first time I got to meet you! I'm glad you're a part of our family and am grateful for your friendship! Happy 30th! 

-Billy Hesterman

From Ryan

Tom was my first companion (trainer) on my mission serving in Perth, Western Australia. Simply put he was and im sure still is an amazing person and in such a short time taught me so much about the gospel of jesus christ, missionary work and life in general which i will never forget. 

Thanks mate!

-Ryan Osmotherly

From Karissa Lynn

Tom,

I can't think of a specific memory, but you are constantly making me laugh! I don't think I've ever seen you in a bad mood and I love that. You are always so happy and charming. I also really appreciate that you have always been so friendly to me. Our family would not be the same without you!! I hope that you have a wonderful birthday and a great year to follow it!

-Karissa Lynn Kim (Jayson's wife, not sister.)

From Jayson

I remember when I had recently returned from my mission, and I went to Melissa's wedding reception.  I dont remember what I was doing, but I happened to glance over to where Tom and Robin were.  I watched Robin walk elegantly down the stairs in the reception hall, and Tom waited below with one had outstretched and the other behind his back (or something like that).  Robin took his hand, and they strode elegantly out of the reception hall.  This was all done of course in nice suits and dresses, so it all looked very impressive.  That is probably the earliest memory I have of Tom, it was a good one.


-Jayson Kim

From Blake and Lilly

Happy Birthday Uncle Tom!!!


-Love Blake & Lilly

From Christina

Happy Birthday Tom!
We wish you a wonderful birthday full of fun. You are my big brother and although through the years I haven't been fond of some of the torments you put me through, as when I'd come home from school and you'd tell me I wasn't home and shut the front door in my face, or when I was really little and asked where Mom was you'd tell me she'd died, when in fact she was outside. Yet though I was that annoying little sister you looked out for me, as when you told me my best friend was a terrible/controlling person and I should stop playing with her, or when there was a tornado around town and you made sure Dave and I stayed in the basement for safety. It's been a trip having you as a brother and I look forward to Blake and Lillian getting to spend time with you and knowing just how unique the Konie Family really is.

-Christina

From Melissa

Dear Tom,

Happy Birthday!  You're one of my favorite brother-in-laws!  I'm glad my sister found someone who makes her so happy -- and fits in with the family so well.  You really are an awesome guy and I've enjoyed getting to know you. I truly appreciate what you bring to the McLelland clan.  I especially like your creme brulee.  ;) Have a fantastic birthday and enjoy being 30!  Wow, do you feel old?  You probably should.  

Love ya! 

Melissa Hesterman

From Beth

I was fortunate to meet Tom in community college at Waubonsee, where we shared the responsibilities of Prop Master and Prop Mistress. Whenever I would feel anger toward the actors for a) playing with props that weren't theirs b) eating props that weren't theirs c) misplacing/breaking the non/edible props that weren't theirs, he would take me off to the side and redirect my attention. This would usually involve teaching me a new swing dancing move. Let's just say that over the course of a show run, I became very good at the pretzel! When I think of him, I think of dancing, whether it be swinging backstage or break dancing on the ballroom floor at my wedding reception. 

Tom is one of the funniest, energetic, and positive people I know, and he makes any situation a blast! I am thankful to know him! :)


-Beth Quantock Lund

From Dan

Thanks for the Whip, Bonnie and I enjoyed it (actually, she was scared of it, and i didn't know how to use it without making welts). The Candy Bikini was fun, but it was too hard to eat it off of her, but good times all around. I can only imagine what you and Robin conjure up. :)


-Dan Brown

From Mark

How can one describe Tom? Zany and weird come to mind right off the bat. But Tom is much more than either of those. He loves life and is not afraid to show it. So my wish for Tom on his 30th birthday, is for him to keep on the same path, enjoy life to the fullest and go ahead and be a little weird.... OK, maybe he could tone down the weird just a little?? :) Happy 30th Tom, and may you have many more.

-Mark McLelland

From Jessica

Knock knock. Who's there? Pancakes. Pancakes, who? Pancakes on your head!! Tom, you were a great comedian back then and I always remember you smiling whenever your name comes to mind! I often think about the guts it took to get up in front of everyone in GRADE SCHOOL and do what you love best--making others laugh :) Happy 30th Birthday!


-Jessica Ogden Adams

From Glenna and Twitter

Happy Birthday Tom,

My goodness where did the time go ?  Seems like yesterday that Sue spent a few days with us in Libertyville IL You were just a Toddler and in to our cupboards before we could even greet you, What a Joy to have you as part of our extended family, May God Continue to Bless You and Keep You. 

-Glenna and Twitter (Uncle Craig's Mom and Dad) 

From Maurie

I was Tom's Bishop through some of Tom's teenage years and have very fond memories of him as a young man.  Tom had a very outgoing and gregarious personality so there was a certain panache whenever you were around him that came through. Happy Birthday Tom.  Don't know how you got to be 30 when I am still the same age I was when you were 16!

-Maurie Coleman

From Robin (AKA: The Wife)

Tom!  It's your birthday!  How cool is that!?  Pretty cool.  I'll keep this pretty basic, seeing how the world could read this... You are the best husband a girl could ask for.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the man you are.  I can't believe I got so lucky.  You are funny, smart, sexy, silly, diligent, trustworthy, kind, charitable, willing to serve, and so much more.  I'm glad we finally found each other--it was definitely worth the wait!  I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.  Much success, more love, and grand adventures are yours for the taking.

Have the most wonderful birthday ever!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxox

Robin