Thomas Randell “Tommy” Visser passed away peacefully at 74 years old, on July 29, 2026, in Roswell, New Mexico. After enduring declining health in recent years, the Lord mercifully called him Home, in the presence of family and loved ones. Tom was born on August 25, 1951, in Artesia, California to Sam and Mary (Southfield) Visser. His Mother passed away when he was a toddler, and when he was five years old, his dad married Johanna (Dekoekkoek) Visser. Finally, he again had a mom. Over the years, Sam and Jo added four more children to the family, making for a lively bunch which included one girl, followed by seven boys. There was never a dull moment in the Visser home! The son of a dairyman, Tom knew what he wanted to do from a young age. He started milking cows in childhood, and throughout his life, he never wanted to do anything else.

Before graduating from Ontario Christian High School in 1969, he spotted a pretty blond getting off the school bus and told his friend, “I’m going to marry that girl one day”. He didn’t even know her name…but marry that girl he did! Tom and Dorothy (Tillema) Visser were married on September 30, 1971, in Ontario, California. He always said she was “the wind beneath his wings”, because he knew how much she sacrificed for him to be able to live his dream. In 1978 they welcomed their daughter Amy, followed by a son, Adam, in 1983. Shortly after, with a four-year-old and an infant, Tom bought a herd of cows and told Dorothy that they were leaving the life they knew to move to Hereford, Texas while he built a dairy in Roswell. She, along with many others, thought he was crazy, but there are many in the Pecos Valley who can credit their livelihoods to his willingness to take a risk. Tommy bought the South Springs Ranch (which he later named Jinglebob) in 1990 and fell in love with everything about it. He said it was the most beautiful place on earth and where he could feel the Lord’s presence most.

As much as he loved his work, he also loved to play, enjoying his fair share of time at the bowling alley and golf course, as well as many hunting and fishing trips with the guys over the years. He was a lifelong baseball fan, loved classic cars and watching horse racing, but none of these compared to playing cards. If you could play a game of pitch with him, you knew you were in! There has never been a Visser family gathering that didn’t include more than a few hands of pitch. He also loved to travel and was able to see much of the world with Dorothy. They had some of their best memories on these trips, but life for them truly began when grandchildren came around. Tom said the day he became a grandfather was the best day of his life. His grandchildren Delaney, Ryder and Dylan were the lights of his life. He loved taking Ryder to Del City, Texas to see the farm; it was their happy place together. Tommy was so proud when Dylan started helping around the dairy and ranch, as he wanted nothing more than for his family to love what he loved. Delaney would visit Papa almost daily to bring him his afternoon tea and talk about her latest adventure. Anytime she would tell him about another country she was traveling to, he’d just shake his head and say “Unbelievable!”; her ambition and independence was something that blew his small-town mind.

Tom wasn’t one to shout his faith from the rooftops, but he was a believer in Christ, and we have peace knowing he is with our Savior. His daughter Amy once told him he reminded her of the saying, “Religion is someone sitting in a church thinking about fishing. Relationship is someone out fishing thinking about God”. Tom replied, “That’s how I feel when I’m with my cows or on the ranch”. He knew that everything he had was because of the Lord’s faithfulness.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of almost 55 years, Dorothy, his daughter Amy Vander Dussen and her husband Casey, son Adam Visser and his wife Rocio, as well as his grandchildren, Delaney Vander Dussen, and Ryder and Dylan Visser. He is also survived by his sister Louise Flores, brothers Jim (Bill), Mitch (Gina), Mike (Kelly), Ellis (Janet), and Curtis (Susie) Visser, as well as sisters-in-law, Jeanette Rietkerk, Betty Diepersloot, and Dianne (Jan) Reitsma, sister-in-law Pam Tillema, and brother-in-law, Dan (Becky) Tillema. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family would also like to recognize Eric Southfield (and wife Wendy) for his friendship and devotion to Tommy.

He was preceded in death by his mother Mary Visser, parents Sam and Johanna Visser, brother Bobby Visser, brothers-in-law Billy Van Vliet, Ryan Diepersloot, Johnny Rietkerk, Art Tillema, Dick Tillema, Jim Tillema, and Harold Tillema, who was his best friend. He was also preceded in death by niece Darlene Tillema and nephews Jon Alan Reitsma, Garyn Troost and Garren Visser.

Tom loved kids and always celebrated hard work, so in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor to Chaves County 4:H Council (1610 Southeast Main Street, Roswell, NM 88203).

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Tom’s hospice nurse, Melissa Smith and the entire staff at The Beehive, where Tommy spent the last four months of his life. Their compassion and love for him did not go unnoticed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Beehive Homes of Roswell (2903 North Washington Avenue, Roswell, NM 88201). By writing “staff bonus” on the memo line of all checks, you can ensure that your contribution will go directly to those who helped care for Tom in his final days.

Pallbearers will be Brad Visser, Travis Visser, Andrew and Grant Maloney, and Eric and Daniel Southfield.

Visitation for Tommy will be at Ballard Funeral Chapel, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 4 - 7PM.  Friday morning at 9:00 AM, there will be a short Graveside Service at South Park Cemetery, with a Memorial Service to follow at 10:00 AM, at Grace Community Church 935 W Mescalero Rd., Roswell.