Tamara Sue Hlavaty

Tamara Sue Hlavaty, MD Tamara Sue (Hofman) Hlavaty MD, 62, died Monday, July 26, 2021, surrounded by loved ones at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, following a stroke. Tammy was born April 30, 1959, in McCook Nebraska, the daughter of Harvey and Ramona Hofman. She grew up on the family farm near Indianola, Nebraska and attended a one-room schoolhouse in Ash Creek. She then graduated from Republican Valley High School in 1977. Beginning at age 12, Tammy regularly played the organ during church services at nearby St. John Lutheran Ash Creek Church and greatly valued her church community. She continued her education at McCook Community College and was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She graduated from UNL with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and completed an internship to become a registered dietician. During her undergraduate college years, Tammy worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad and also won the title of Nebraska Wheat Queen in 1981. In April 1984 she married Todd Hlavaty at St. John Lutheran Church in McCook, NE and they were married for the next 32 years. Tammy and Todd attended medical school at the University of Arkansas together and both earned MD degrees in 1991. At graduation, Tammy was awarded the Winston K. Shorey Award by her peers for being the most compassionate and humanistic physician in their class. After earning her MD degree, Tammy did her medical residency in radiology at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. While in Iowa she delivered her first child, Tessa, in 1993 and her second child, Troy, in 1996. Tammy also served as a Captain in the US Army Reserve and National Guard from 1986-1997. Beginning in late 1996, she worked 17 years for Radiology Services and practiced at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Nebraska, where she helped establish the first minimally invasive breast biopsy procedures. In the male-dominated field of radiology, Tammy advocated for women and focused much of her work on early detection of breast cancer. Following her career in North Platte, she joined Heartland Radiology at CHI St. Francis in Grand Island, Nebraska in 2016 and remained an enthusiastic physician until her passing. In her most recent chapter, Tammy enjoyed spending time with her significant other, Mike, in Simi Valley, California and planned to retire there within the next several years. Tammy was a devout Lutheran and believer in eternal salvation. Her favorite word was "gratitude" and she often expressed her gratitude for people who were there for her in good times and in challenging times. Tammy greatly enjoyed running and competed in multiple major marathons across the United States including the New York, Chicago, and LA marathons. She also enjoyed cooking, new travel adventures and spending time relaxing along ocean beaches. Her greatest pleasure was spending time with loved ones. Above all Tammy loved being a mother and will be remembered for exemplifying the unwavering love of her children that all mothers strive for. With patients and with friends, Tammy had a way of making people feel seen, heard and appreciated without needing to say anything. She was a well-educated physician who kept the humbleness of a Nebraska farm girl. During her life, Tammys presence, wisdom and warmth were a gift to everyone she touched. Following Tammys wishes after her death, she continued to save lives through the gift of organ donation. She was preceded in death by grandparents William and Henrietta Hofman and Reinhold and Margaret Hinz and parents Harvey and Ramona Hofman. She is survived by daughter, Tessa Hlavaty (Jared) Thomsen of Portland, Oregon; son, Troy Hlavaty of North Platte; significant other, Michael Strombeck of Simi Valley, California; ex-husband, Todd Hlavaty of North Platte; brother, Brent (Debra) Hofman of Indianola; sister, Peggy (Cal) Stoltenberg of Norman, Oklahoma; and many nieces and nephews. Celebration of life is Saturday, July 31, 2021, 10 a.m. (CT), at St. John Lutheran Ash Creek Church, southeast of McCook, with the Rev. Justin Hildebrand and Rev. Mike Reiners officiating. Interment will follow in Ash Creek Cemetery. Visitation will take place prior to services. Memorials are suggested to Live On Nebraska (Nebraska Organ Recovery), 3867 Leavenworth St, Omaha, Nebraska 68105. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel, McCook, is entrusted with arrangements. Funeral Service St. John's Lutheran Church Saturday, July 31, 2021 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM RR #3 McCook, Nebraska 69001