Thomas Ambrose Mehl Sr.

It was the year 1947. Harry S. Truman was in office and the United States was enjoying a brief period of after war peace and a boost in the economy. It was also in the prospering city of Baltimore, Maryland that on July 24th, Edward Sr. and Grace Mehl (née Lemme) welcomed their third of four children, Thomas Ambrose Mehl. To support their growing family, Edward Sr. worked as a shop foreman and was in general a "jack of all trades" while Grace was a homemaker for her family. Even as a youth, Thomas was given a deep sense of spiritual devotion to his Creator and was heavily involved with his church, Saint Benedict Catholic Church. When not at church he enjoyed being outside and playing baseball and other sports with the neighborhood kids. As he grew, he would become a successful student and took part in many school activities at Mount Saint Joseph High School. After graduating in June of 1965, Tom decided to follow in his father's and brother's footsteps and enlisted in the United States Military and began training in the Marine Corps in 1967. Tom bravely fought in Vietnam and served from December 5, 1967 until December 4, 1969. Though he never spoke much about this time in his life, his service to his country was always something he took great pride in. After returning home in 1969, Tom began taking courses at a local community college and during this time met (by chance) the lady who was to become the love of his life, the former Mary Ruth Chlada. The two were wed on September 4, 1971. They made their home in Baltimore and Tom worked as a Goodyear Tire salesman. The two welcomed their children, Thomas, Kathleen and Michael, into their lives and had what could be considered a normal, happy family. Though Tom worked hard, long hours slowly climbing up through the ranks at Goodyear Tire, he made a commitment to his family that he honored daily; set family dinner times that Tom would use to find out how his wife and children were doing and his attendance at all of sporting events. For a while he was even the head wrestling coach a Saint John the Beloved Elementary School, a title he took very seriously and he is still remembered by his wrestlers years later. Tom's career with Goodyear would last twenty years and move he and his family through parts of Delaware, Maine and Maryland. Finally in 1991, Tom left Goodyear and after working several different jobs decided it was time for he and Mary to move to Michigan to be closer to their grandchildren. Tom quickly found his niche in Michigan; he became a manager of TCI Tire and was very respected by his many co-workers and the clients he served throughout the years. In his free time, Tom enjoyed sitting back and watching his grandkids grow. He loved being their "Pop-Pop" and, as he had done for his own children, he attended all of their soccer games and could always be heard cheering them on from the bleachers. He loved playing golf, watching any movies that were Westerns, about World War Two or featured Mel Brooks. He was an avid sports fan and was not to be distracted when the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens or Maryland Terrapins were playing! However, one can only smile at the thought of the strong Marine having a fondness for anything to do with "Tigger" from "Winnie the Pooh" as Tom did. Tom fought a nearly three year long battle with the cancer that would eventually claim his life on January 9, 2014. Though he has left us, we take comfort in knowing that Thomas Ambrose Mehl Sr. was at peace with his life. He accomplished much in his sixty-six years and could not have been anymore proud of his family, career and the many accomplishments he obtained during his lifetime. He took these words from 2nd Timothy 4 6-8 to heart: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." He will be greatly missed.

Thomas Ambrose Mehl Sr.

July 24, 1947 - January 9, 2014