Thomas L. Babinski
November 15, 1962 ~ January 1, 2013
Thomas Leonard Babinski, age 50 of East Bethel, died unexpectedly on January 1, 2013. He will be deeplly missed by his fianc, Emily; parents, Rita and Leonard Babinski; sister, Joni (Thomas Hankes) Babinski; special pets, Cooper Alli and Tony. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM Sunday, January 6th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Dr. SW, Forest Lake. A gathering of family and friends beginning at 2 PM and will be held until time of service.
Emily, so sorry to hear about Tom. We just heard. We are sure going to miss running into you two on the lake or in Longville at Patricks. Stay in touch.
Love Deb & Steve
One of my favorite pictures is of Tom, Emily, Leonard, Mike, Mikey, Bruce, and myself in the lodge. Such fond memories. I always looked forward to seeing Tom, Emily, Leonard, and Mike show up for their week of riding.
We have great memories with Tom, Emily, Leonard, Rita, Tom and Joni in northern Minnesota at Bromleys on Ten Mile, Florios and Patricks. We also have a fond memory out to Moccasin Lake after a wedding a Bromleys. We had a wonderful time after we found our destination! Lots of good times and memories! We are very sorry to hear of your loss and hold onto all of those good memories you have together. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Oh the memories…Tommy was NEVER on time and that bothered Mark more then anything, so one year for Christmas we had a clock made that the numbers were all over the place and had it labeled “Tom’s time” it was so fitting for him, he laughed so hard when he opened it,I can still hear him. Em is so right about the Tom Test, this 1 bike they built up so much that when Mark rode it he said he would never do that again his word were” That is stupid fast for a little bike” once again Tommy said no way til he rode it! I bet he didn’t ever ride it again…Tommy you were there for me in my worst time when we lost Mark and I thank you for just being you..Ride on boys, you are the best….
On my first trip to Toms beloved mountain in Wyoming, I believe its called Warm Springs Mountain, how impressed I was by how spectacular the place is. As per Tom we had to hit the lodges on the mountain for food and drink. And also as per Tom my money was no good and you might as well let him host or there is going to be a problem.
The places were wonderful for a business person like me at the time but a redneck at heart. I quickly learned that if you were a friend of Toms and Emily’s father you were no stranger on the mountain.
I was still working at time and was not comfortable with the deep snow and heavy sleds in the high country so I stayed back and did some business. At the time best phone service was at a place called the Sawmill. Thanks Tom they knew who I was and it made a fine place to make calls. During that time there was a resident of the mountain that knew I was Emily’s dad. As the late afternoon wore on into evening he was back to me with great frequency praising me for what a fine job I had done to produce her.
On a later trip with Deanna and I got a little confused as to how get to the cabin as we were ahead of Tom and Emily. As is typical when I figured out where it was I spotted a trail that would lead to the cabin. Problem turned out to be the trail in winter is a groomed snow mobile trail in winter and at 8,500 feet in the mountains the base is a lot deeper than the flat land of Minnesota and the Subaru commercials are not quite true. Lucky for us along came a group local snowmobile riders. When they learned who we were a large truck with lots of tow straps and many willing helpers returned to the scene and we were promptly freed from our problem. No smart remarks when I apologized for; being stupid. One fellow said that wasn’t really stuck we all do it, in fact I got my truck stuck right over there last week and I live here.
Says a lot about Tom, his friends and why he loved the mountain in Wyoming.
Deanna Storbakken
This is about our Christmas cookie baking at Tom & Emily’s house. Daughters Emily & Amy & myself would make several types of cookies as well as bars. Tom would make a run for his shop. He would usually show up three or four hours later for “sampling” or else Amy would deliver samples to the shop. Sometimes he would even fix us all a great dinner which he prepared on the grill. He liked to cook & eat. On a trip to Wyoming Tom & Emily took us on a tour of the mountain. As normal (for Tom) he dragged along his favorite camp stove & prepared a very nice lunch along the beautiful Green River.
Tribute to Tom –
Tom was a motorhead. It had to have a motor in it or he simply was not interested from an early age on — 1st Honda 50 at age 5.
Nothing could be left “stock” from that very 1st bike (egged on by his beloved Grandmother) to the very last –
Everything — from dirt bikes, snowmobliles, ATVs to trucks had to be “hopped up”. Pull out those perfectly good, brand new stock parts and put in those high performance after market parts.
And then — give it the “Tom Test” — rev the engine until you think it would blow up. If it doesn’t, it has passed the “Tom Test”.
Friends Mark & Rick would kringe after hours spent rebuilding one of Tom’s old bikes as they watched it endure the “Tom Test”.
The next time you hear a “thunderstorm” — possibly even on a sunny day. As the thunder roars across the sky — just know that it is not thunder — it is Tom & Mark rebuilding bikes and giving them the “Tom Test”.
Will love you and miss you both always.
Who was Tom —
Tom would rather be on a secluded mountain in the snow than a crowded beach in Mexico!
Tom would rather be in a small town far from anywhere and everything than in a city with all the close conveniences.
Tom would rather be in a “honky tonk” — where everyone knows your name than a popular night club with all the glitz.
Tom would rather grill steaks outdoors when it’s 20 below than have pizza delivered.
Tom would rather sprawl out on the floor with the dogs to take a nap than have the comfort of the couch.
Tom would rather stay home and watch Food Network than go to a movie.
Thanks Tom — for all the things that made you — you.
Love always — Emily