03/16/2026
Thomas Riepel
Thomas Wade Riepel, 34, passed away on March 5, 2026, following a tragic car accident while returning home from a job on the Navajo Reservation. His family and friends are heartbroken by the sudden loss of a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Tom was born on April 15, 1991, in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Elizabeth Claire Molyneux and Thomas Molyneux. Later that same year, his family moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he spent much of his childhood. Tom grew up riding bikes, spending time outdoors, and fishing with his dad. He also spent many cherished times with his grandparents, Jim and Helen Molyneux, where he loved being outside and exploring.
As a child, Tom was incredibly curious about the world around him. He always wanted to understand how things worked and how he could be part of what was going on. Though naturally quiet, he had a sharp sense of humor and a remarkable intelligence. He loved playing video games and often joked that they helped keep him out of trouble. He also developed a passion for computers, frequently modifying them, a hobby that continued into adulthood.
During his teenage years, Tom continued to enjoy riding bikes and spending time with close friends. He was known as a good kid, though his mother fondly described him as stubborn at times.
In his twenties, Tom experienced both great joy and difficult challenges. He welcomed his first son, Elijah Wade Anderson, and was thrilled to become a father. He welcomed his second son, Elias Thane Molyneux, and was overjoyed to have another boy. Though life presented hardships, including a divorce in 2016 that made it difficult for him to see his sons as often as he wished, Tom's love for his boys never wavered.
In 2019, Tom made the decision to join the Arizona Army National Guard as a mechanic with the 1404th. The National Guard allowed him to further develop his natural mechanical talents while also giving him a sense of purpose and brotherhood. He graduated from Army Basic Training on January 30, 2020.
In July of 2020, Tom met Samantha JoAnne Riepel. The two quickly fell in love and became engaged in April of 2021. They were married on a beach in California in September of 2021. During this time, Tom was deployed to Scottsdale, Arizona, from January through mid-September of 2021 in support of the COVID-19 mission.
When Tom married Sam, he also became a devoted father figure to Brynlee Ann Bruckner-Riepel and Theodore Wesley Bruckner-Riepel. He had already been acting as a strong and caring male role model in their lives, and he embraced his role in the family wholeheartedly. In August of 2022, Elias came to live with Tom and Sam, and their household became a family of five.
Tom was deeply supportive of his family and, even through life's difficult moments, had a way of keeping everyone's spirits up. His steady presence, quiet humor, and strength were felt by everyone around him.
In 2023, Tom began working for Jarmco, where his mechanical skills quickly earned him respect and advancement within the shop. He was grateful to be able to apply his talents in a way that challenged him, and he genuinely enjoyed working alongside his coworkers.
After spending time attending Catholic Mass with Sam and her family, Tom felt called to deepen his faith and begin the process of becoming Catholic. In September 2025, he started the classes that would prepare him to enter the Church and was looking forward with excitement to his initiation during the Easter season of 2026. His journey of faith was something he embraced sincerely as he continued striving to grow as a husband, father, and man of faith.
Tom will be remembered for his intelligence, curiosity, mechanical talent, quiet humor, and unwavering love for family.
He is survived by his wife, Samantha JoAnne Riepel; his children, Elijah Wade Anderson, Elias Thane Molyneux, Brynlee Ann Bruckner-Riepel, and Theodore Wesley Bruckner-Riepel; his mother, Elizabeth Claire Molyneux; his sister, Jennifer Nichole Rishel; his brother, Bryan James Molyneux; and many extended family members, friends, and fellow service members who loved him deeply.
Funeral services honoring the life of Tom will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026. A viewing will take place on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Owens Livingston Mortuary, 320 N. 9th St., Show Low, Arizona. A rosary will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 21, 2026, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Rita's Catholic Church, 1400 E. Owens, Show Low, Arizona 85901. Burial will follow at Snowflake Cemetery, 390 South 4th St. West, Snowflake, Arizona 85937. A reception will follow the burial at Our Lady of the Snow Community Center, 1655 Main St., Snowflake, Arizona 85937. Military funeral honors will be rendered in recognition of Tom's service in the Arizona Army National Guard.
View Thomas Riepel's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
