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Thomas Bieker was a member of Springfield Business Journal's 2020 class of 40 Under 40.
SBJ file photo
Thomas Bieker was a member of Springfield Business Journal's 2020 class of 40 Under 40.

Environmental Works principal dies

Posted online

Environmental Works Inc. principal Thomas Bieker died yesterday. He was 40.

Bieker's wife, Natalie Willis Bieker, announced his death in a public Facebook post, saying "he was the most passionate, energetic, persistent man I’ve ever been so lucky to meet."

Bieker previously was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

A member of SBJ's 2020 class of 40 Under 40, Bieker said his proudest professional accomplishment was aiding a client in diverting nearly 1 million pounds of food waste from landfills and recycling almost 97% of waste. He joined Environmental Works in 2014.

At Environmental Works, Bieker managed environmental compliance programs and provided oversight for retail environmental operations, among other duties, according to his 40 Under 40 application submitted to SBJ.

Bieker served on Springfield City Council for nearly two years before resigning in November 2012 when he bought a house just outside city limits. During his career, he also was a sergeant in the Missouri Army National Guard and an environmental scientist with Midwest Environmental Consultants. In 2018, he co-founded MidAmerican Real Estate to redevelop areas in Springfield.

Prior to Bieker’s start at the company, Environmental Works founder and owner Robin Melton died in a plane crash in 2012, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

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When he was in high school ,Tommy was dating our oldest daughter Megan Wright. They went to every prom and homecoming together. He and his brother, Matt, ate dinner with us most evenings. Tommy was almost like a son to me.He helped with many renovation projects at our house. Now as I look at those projects at our home, I am tearful. My husband and I were known as Mama Shelia and Daddy Andy. As a funny, about Tommy, I used to iron Tommy's shirts before he and Megan went out. One day he asked me to show him how to iron a shirt. A few years later at his Navy basic training graduation in Chicago, he was so proud to announce that he had been earning money from his Navy buds by ironing their uniforms and dress shirts for $5.00 a piece. He made more money than he could spend on their nights in town! I got a big hug and a "Thank you Mama shelia." He then followed me onto Springfield City Council. He will always be the son I did not have.

Monday, December 14, 2020
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