Thomas Peter Sandel

Thomas Peter Sandel, 81, of St. Joseph, MI passed away at the American House in Jenison, MI on Sat. January 20, 2018. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home – 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Thomas was born on Jan. 31, 1936 in Hixon, WI to the late Peter and Ruth (Couldry) Sandel. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957 while stationed in Germany. On Feb. 26, 1955 he married Sharon Kathleen Smith at St. John’s Catholic Church in Benton Harbor, MI. Thomas was a service technician at Parrett Business Machines for 52 years. He was a passionate concertina enthusiast and was inducted into the World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame in 2003. He hosted many concertina events in the Midwest for over 20 years. Thomas also loved to walk and watch the boats on Lake Michigan. He is survived by his children – Kevin (Carolyn) Sandel of Dorr, MI, Antoinette (David) Stoffle of Alpharetta, GA, and Lorraine (David) Wagner of Edwardsburg, MI; grandchildren – Alexandra, Madeleine and Olivia Stoffle and Alan and Christine Wagner. Thomas is preceded in death by his parents-Peter and Ruth, his wife-Sharon (Jan. 27, 2007), son-Anton Peter Sandel; and a brother-Richard Sandel. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Fri. Jan. 26, 10:00am, at St. John Catholic Church in Benton Harbor, MI with Father Ben Huynh officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation with the family is on Thurs., Jan. 25, from 5:00-8:00pm at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American House Jenison Memory Care Unit – 8001 Cottonwood Dr., Jenison, MI 49428. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com