Thomas Ivanhoff, 95
Thomas “Tom” Glenn Ivanoff, 95, peacefully passed away on December 25, 2025. Born on May 31, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, he was the son of Mildred Thompson and Walter Ivanoff and grew up on the family farm in Ada, Oklahoma. In 1945, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Tom worked for the Coca Cola Company in L.A., while studying mechanical drawing.
In 1952, Tom married Shirley Montpetit, and the couple moved to Peotone, where Tom worked as a transmission mechanic before becoming Peotone’s Chief of Police, in addition to owning his own gun shop. Tom and Shirley had three children – Sandra “Sandy,” Thomas Jr. “Bud,” Clayton, and Christopher. Shirley passed away in 1965 and, in 1968, Tom married Helen (Gotz) Pleckham. The family immediately doubled in size, as Tom happily became the stepfather to Helen’s three children – Dennis, Diane, and Neal, and raised them as his own. The family quickly grew larger with the births of Tom and Helen’s sons – Kelly and Barry.
Tom and Helen expanded the family farm and with it grew Tom’s penchant for strange and exotic animals, including two peacocks that guarded the farm and terrorized the kids, which Tom found amusing.
In 1976, Tom and Helen embarked on a new adventure, leaving Peotone and moving the family to Cody, Wyoming, where they owned and operated Blackwater Lodge. Tom also was an accomplished gunsmith and, after selling the lodge in 1981, Tom and Helen became ranchers, raising cattle, horses, quail, and an occasionally obnoxious llama. Tom also focused on growing his gunsmithing business, becoming internationally renowned for his bluing and color case hardening techniques.
Tom was a skilled horseman and passionate outdoors man. He loved his time hunting and fishing in the wilderness, and walls of the favorite room in his home were adorned with the trophies he obtained over the years. A hard worker, there was not much Tom would shy away from taking on himself, a trait he proudly passed on to his children. An avid self-teacher, Tom could be found spending his evenings buried in books, learning new skills and honing those he already possessed. Tom’s bronze sculptures are a testament to his creative mind, artistic ability, and are a highlight of his many self-taught accomplishments.
Tom is survived by his children, Thomas Jr. “Bud” (Debbie), Kelly (Tamra), Barry (Pam), and Sandra (Doug) Wilson; his stepchildren, Dennis (Mary) Pleckham, Neal (Phyllis) Pleckham, and Diane “Dee” (Larry) Bettenhausen; as well as daughters-in-law, Cindy Ivanoff and Liudmila “Mila” Ivanoff. He was preceded in death by his wives Shirley Ivanoff and Helen Ivanhoff; as well as his sons, Richard, Clayton, and Christopher Ivanoff.
Services, including a Funeral Mass, were held on January 12, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, in Cody, Wyoming.
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