Thomas L. Stemaly, Jr., 94, of Tekonsha, passed away on Monday, July 11, 2022 at Grand Vista Retirement Community in Coldwater under hospice care.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2022 at Lighthouse of Tekonsha, 616 N. Main Street. Lighthouse Chaplain Kristy Smith will officiate.
Visitation will be held just prior to the ceremony from 10:00-11:00 a.m.., also at Lighthouse of Tekonsha. Interment will follow the ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha.
Tom was born September 14, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan to Thomas L. and Agnes (Crenshaw) Stemaly, Sr. The family purchased a farm in Union City when Tom was young. He grew up in Union City and graduated with the UCHS Class of 1945.
Following high school, at the end of WWII, Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served from 1945-1947 as an MP in Germany. He endured horrible circumstances at the young age of just 18, but he served honorably and made it home to start a family.
November 6, 1948 he married the former Beverly Phelps. She preceded him in death on October 12, 2002.
As an adult, Tom resided in Tekonsha. He was employed at Clark Equipment in Battle Creek, worked in farming & herd management, and was later employed by the Calhoun County Road Commission, from which he retired in 1990 after 25 years of service. He had a great love for dairy farming and was offered jobs to manage some very large operations through the years.
Outside of work, Tom played fastpitch softball with the Tekonsha team for 20 years; he served on the Tekonsha Village Council and helped raise funds for Tekonsha Athletics. He was a lifetime member of the Homer VFW.
Tom was very knowledgeable about many things including the Tekonsha community. He never met a stranger and was always very friendly. His family will remember him as being the doctor to all the kids when they were injured and the veterinarian to all the farm animals. He gave wonderful hugs and often used those hugs to say “I love you” – although those words were hard to come by. He loved his children and grandchildren dearly.
Tom is survived by his children, Charles Michael “Chuck” (Roberta) Stemaly of Tekonsha, Thomas “Andy” (Marlene) Stemaly of Tekonsha, Judy (Mike) McCurley of Coldwater and Marc Stemaly of Battle Creek; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Howard, and Ted Stemaly.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Tekonsha Township Fire Department, 166 Spires Parkway, Tekonsha, MI 49092.
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