Joan and Family: Our heartfelt prayers and love to you all. Tom was a special, unique person. He always will be remembered as a talented photographer, independent thinker, and someone with a strong optimistic faith that was very encouraging.
Talking with Tom at Dave and Barb's wedding was a joy - it was amazing to watch him in action picking a dramatic angle or moment; as well as when my brother and I were snowmobiling in the UP and staying the local motel he always had good things to say with a dry, joyous smile and clearly wanted the best for others. His love of life and motorcycling demonstrated a strong "never say quit" spirit that was very inspiring to many who were close to it and witnessed it.
As an example, I will always remember the doctors advising he never motorcycle again...to be followed by a short time later Tom writing a kind postcard to them with the update, "here I am" after successfully motorcycling halfway across the country out west and enjoying it completely.
Tom lived life fully and with kindness to other people, leaving all of us better for having been with him and having known him. Immediately after meeting him several relatives and friends from all walks of life I know, took a liking to Tom to the point we all said we were impressed what a cool guy and nice person he is. That was before we knew he drove a motorcycle across the country. Everyone smiled and said what a unique person he is. Tom was an amazing person and led a robust courageous life.
Tom's strong pioneer spirit is akin to a kind of a Teddy Rosevelt type of person...genuine, rugged, honest, hearty, kind, and a lover of his fellowman and nature.
God bless you all. You are in our prayers. We are all very blessed for having known him. May God's Holy Spirit, the love of family, relatives, friends, and the blessing of having been touched by Tom's life always be a comfort and joy to you.
