Thomas J. Wall

Thomas Jellison Wall Much loved husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa, died at the age of 101 on February 15, 2024. His wisdom, encyclopedic mind, and dead-pan humor are sorely missing from our lives. Tom earned his engineering degree from Purdue University in 1947, and was a life-long fan of the Boilermakers. Tom was employed by Chrysler and later General Motors. Tom was an expert in all things automotive and could identify the make, model, and year of any car, foreign or domestic on sight. Tom and Shirley (Newcomb) were married in 1951 and had four individualistic children: David Newcomb, Dee Alison, Debra Sue and Diane Kay. He had four grandchildren: Kai, Trevor, Carly and Erin and two great-grandchildren Pia and Soren. His interests were passionate and life-long: sports (all of them), skiing (he skied well into his 90s as a member of the 70+ski club) and aviation. He constructed intricate scale model planes out of balsa wood, with tiny gas engines that could really fly! He read deeply about history, he recited epic poems from memory, and knew words from most songs. He loved singing with the church, Cordia choir and his Simon and Garfunkel album. He volunteered for 30 years in various capacities from tax preparing for the “elderly,” to hospital transport at Munson, to fundraising for the food shelf and the library in Suttons Bay. He would never say “No” to ice cream or chocolate which his children and grandchildren loved. Tom Wall was an ardent Democrat, a proud World War II veteran who raised the stars and stripes every Flag Day. A celebration of Tom’s life will take place at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan 49684. The Rev. Dr. Robin L. Carden will officiate. Military Honors will be conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army, Cherryland V.F.W. Post 2780 and American Legion Post 35. His request was that in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be made to the Suttons Bay Congregational Church or Leelanau Christian Neighbors. “We hope, Tom/Dad/Grandpa, that you are schussing down some mighty mountain now “

Thomas J. Wall

December 24, 1922 - February 15, 2024