Thomas Edward Nidiffer II

Thomas E. Nidiffer II, 76, passed peacefully and painlessly to his eternal rest in the arms of his beloved wife, Linda, and his adored daughter, Caprice Baumert, on July 25, 2022 at his residence. Also grieving his passing are his much loved grandsons Andrew Baumert and Jacob Baumert as well as his beloved son-in-law Oscar Baumert. Tom was the son of Thomas Nidiffer and Cloene Shipp Nidiffer who predeceased him. He was the eldest of their five children. His three remaining living siblings Mrs. Debby Goodman (Gene), Jana Nidiffer (Jayne Thorson), and David Nidiffer (Dene) also share in the family’s loss. The cousins and nieces and nephews will gather again at some point to tell their favorite stories of Uncle Tom. Tom was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Warren High School where he played tennis, was on the speech and debate team and he never met a stranger. He graduated from Purdue University in 1968 and was a proud Boilermaker his entire life. While at Purdue he met his wife, Linda and they were happily married for 53 years and 11 months after 3 years of “courting”. During his Purdue years he was accepted into the Reamer fraternity which was in his years a group of men who were goodwill ambassadors for the University doing service projects and driving the Boilermaker Special (the black locomotive) where ever it needed to go. Next time you watch a Purdue football game watch for it. It will surely be there. He was also the social director for Cary Quadrangle, the dormitory where he lived. He arranged small events and big events for the four halls. One of the most memorable was a formal event where Duke Ellington was the musician. That was a night to remember for all the attendees. He spent his entire 30 year career working for Eli Lilly. His first responsibilities were as a chemical engineer in Indianapolis. Then the company asked him to take on a different role. He became the head of safety and security at the Tippecanoe plant in Lafayette, Indiana. He was back in Purdue country once more. In this role, he even got to buy and ride in ambulances—every little boy’s dream! He served on the local, state, and national safety councils as well. He served his community in other ways by sitting on the Tippecanoe County Library, YMCA, and Elks Board of directors. After retirement, Tom taught classes at IVY Technical College and Purdue. He discovered that he loved to teach as long as it didn’t interfere with his golf game. When his daughter and family moved to the Augusta area in 2000, the senior Nidiffers soon followed to enjoy the grandkids, the climate and golf. Tom was an avid golfer who took one look at Mt. Vintage in North Augusta, SC and decided that was the place for him to spend his retirement years. Mr. Social Director had found his nirvana: good golf, good friends and good food. There will be a celebration of his life held at Mt. Vintage in the near future as we try to accommodate travel arrangements for far flung family. To honor Tom the dress code will be golf shirts and shorts which he wore year round. The music will be selections from Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, The Beatles, Broadway musicals and Cello Concertos. The family would like to thank the Agape Hospice team and all his doctors and nurses at MUSC Charleston for their kindness and support during his final days. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice. He was a dear, sweet man with a wicked sense of humor. May his memory be a blessing.

Tributes

Thomas Edward Nidiffer II

July 6, 1946 - July 25, 2022