Thomas Edward Whale

Thomas (Tom) Edward Whale, age 78, passed away at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo, MI on January 28, 2018.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother Martha (Hjelt), father Malcolm Whale, and step-mothers Isabel (Likins) and Hortense (McKenzie)

Tom is survived by his loving wife Kay (Cochran) of 56 years. They were married at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing on June 24, 1961, in a joint ceremony with Kay’s sister Karen and Bruce Seble.

Tom is lovingly remembered by his daughters Melissa (Scott) Davidson, of Kalamazoo; Jenni (Luke)Werner, of Hudsonville; sister Ann Whale of Sonoma, CA; grand children Taylor, Burke and Hunter Davidson, Brooke and Shane Werner; sister-in-law Karen (Bruce) Seble; nieces Kelly Benbraham and Mindi Tiraboschi.

Tom was born in Detroit in 1939. He graduated from East Lansing high school in 1957 as a 3-year letterman and captain of the football team. He went on to earn a degree in business accounting from Michigan State University in 1961 where he was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity and remained an active alumni. He, Kay and the girls lived in Troy, MI for most of his 30 year career at GM Truck . Tom retired in 1992 and relocated to South Haven, MI and more recently Kalamazoo. They are members of First Congregational Church in South Haven.

Tom was an avid sports fan particularly football, basketball, baseball and golf. Michigan State athletics were his favorite and he and Kay enjoyed many years as Spartan football ticket holders. Tom also loved spending time on the water at the families’ cottage on Higgins Lake for 27 years. In early retirement Tom and Kay also enjoyed spending winters in Green Valley, AZ.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for family and friends at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the First Congregational Church UCC in South Haven, 651 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090. An open house will follow services from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the South Haven Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Tom’s honor  to First Congregational Church UCC in South Haven, MI or Special Olympics of Michigan, Special Olympics Michigan, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859.