Thomas "Tommy" Anthony Hermann Jr., beloved husband, father, Poppaw, brother, and friend, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, passed away at Vanderbilt Hospital on April 18, 2026 after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. Born on January 22, 1952, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Tommy was the son of the late Thomas Anthony Hermann Sr. and Margaret Louise Wink Hermann.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Hermann, and his in-laws, Margaret LaVerne and Kenneth Wright. Tommy is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Yvonne Hermann; his daughters, Emily Zabrecky (Justin) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Courtney Compton (Bobby) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Chelsea Schneider (Andy) of Clarksville, Tennessee. Poppaw leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Danielle Compton, Ethan Zabrecky, Sebastian Schneider, Alexander Schneider, Xavier Compton, and Aliyah Compton.

He is also survived by his bonus mom Helen Hermann of Owensboro, KY, his brother, John Hermann (Debbie) of Owensboro, Kentucky; his sisters, Judy Woellhof (Gary) of Lexington, Kentucky, Mary Jo Koller (Nate) of Marietta, Georgia, and Jeanne Hayden (Brian) of Owensboro, Kentucky; his sisters-in-laws, Cathy Hermann of Hanson, Kentucky, Gloria Everly of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Trisha Conder of Utica, Kentucky; his brother-in-law Andy Wright of Owensboro, Kentucky; along with many nieces and nephews and a few adopted daughters.

Tommy was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1315, where he faithfully served in many roles, including Bingo Chairman, Third Degree and Fourth Degree member, Deputy Grand Knight, and Grand Knight. He was also a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he served on the Cemetery Committee and as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Tommy was self-employed as a general contractor and took great pride in his work. In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, working on the farm, and, most of all, spending time with his grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. The church is located at 502 Church Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Tommy will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with prayers of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home. Additional visitation will be on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Restoration Fund.

"There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains." — Unknown

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard…"~Winnie the Pooh