Elden "Tom" E. Colahan, 68, died April 14, 2014 at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 20, 1945 in El Dorado, KS, the son of Eldon and Opal McGinnis Colahan. He was a graduate of McPherson High School. A resident of Inman for 16 years, he had worked for Jackson's Ice Cream, Hutchinson, and Moridge Manufacturing, Moundridge. He was a member of the Gold Wing Road Rider's Association, American Legion, and NRA. He played in several popular local bands over the years and did guitar repair work and lessons for Johnson Music. He served in the United States Navy for six years including service during the VietNam War from 1967-1968. He married Carolyn Sweitzer on August 20, 1966 in Salina. She survives.
Other survivors include 2 sons, Bill Colahan and wife Donna, Inman and Mike Colahan and wife Mandy, Shawnee, KS, his mother, Opal Colahan, Inman, and 6 grandchildren, Zachary, Darcy, Chris, Buddy, Brennan, and Allison.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, Hutchinson, with Pastor Dwight Carter presiding. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be held from 9AM to 9PM Thursday, with the family present from 6-8PM that evening, all at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Wounded Warrior's, both in care of the funeral home.