IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Thomas P.
"Tom" Kretschmer
August 1, 2016
Obituary
ELKHART — Thomas P. "Tom" Kretschmer, 51, of Elkhart, passed away from a sudden illness while in Chicago on business at 12:24 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1.
He was born Sept. 23, 1964, in Elkhart, to the late Bernard C. and Doris (Krake) Kretschmer.
Along with his former spouse, Marcia Kretschmer, Tom is survived by his children, Brynna D. Kretschmer of Niles, Mich., Tom P. Kretschmer of Elkhart, Kristi L. (Jesse) Miller of Goshen and Linsay N. Bisig of White Pigeon, Mich.; sisters Patti Kretschmer of Chicago, Lorraine (Aaron) Thatcher of Farmington, Utah and Paulette (Gannon) Kane of Oceanside, Calif.; brother Bernie (Norma) Kretschmer of Elkhart; best friend Serwa Ziadeh; and three grandchildren.
A sister, Ann Marie Kretschmer, preceded him in death.
The family has honored Tom's wishes to be cremated and is holding a memorial celebration of life service at Billings Funeral home of Elkhart from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, when a procession will leave the funeral home enroute to St. Vincent Cemetery in Elkhart for a graveside committal service there.
Family and friends remember Tom as a physically fit picture of health who enjoyed bicycling, fishing and travel and nothing made him happier than spending time with his family and friends. He was lighthearted, positive and always willing to help anyone at the drop of a hat. Tom was an OTR truck driver for the Dollar Tree Stores for several years, but will be best remembered as a licensed paramedic with the state of Indiana for nearly 20 years, serving on both the Madison and Center Township (Indiana) Fire departments as well as Tri-County Ambulance services.
Memorial donations in Tom's memory can be given to the Cystic Fibrosis or Make-A-Wish foundations.
He was born Sept. 23, 1964, in Elkhart, to the late Bernard C. and Doris (Krake) Kretschmer.
Along with his former spouse, Marcia Kretschmer, Tom is survived by his children, Brynna D. Kretschmer of Niles, Mich., Tom P. Kretschmer of Elkhart, Kristi L. (Jesse) Miller of Goshen and Linsay N. Bisig of White Pigeon, Mich.; sisters Patti Kretschmer of Chicago, Lorraine (Aaron) Thatcher of Farmington, Utah and Paulette (Gannon) Kane of Oceanside, Calif.; brother Bernie (Norma) Kretschmer of Elkhart; best friend Serwa Ziadeh; and three grandchildren.
A sister, Ann Marie Kretschmer, preceded him in death.
The family has honored Tom's wishes to be cremated and is holding a memorial celebration of life service at Billings Funeral home of Elkhart from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, when a procession will leave the funeral home enroute to St. Vincent Cemetery in Elkhart for a graveside committal service there.
Family and friends remember Tom as a physically fit picture of health who enjoyed bicycling, fishing and travel and nothing made him happier than spending time with his family and friends. He was lighthearted, positive and always willing to help anyone at the drop of a hat. Tom was an OTR truck driver for the Dollar Tree Stores for several years, but will be best remembered as a licensed paramedic with the state of Indiana for nearly 20 years, serving on both the Madison and Center Township (Indiana) Fire departments as well as Tri-County Ambulance services.
Memorial donations in Tom's memory can be given to the Cystic Fibrosis or Make-A-Wish foundations.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas P. "Tom" Kretschmer, please visit our flower store.
Services
Memorial Celebration Of Life
August
13
12:30 - 2:30 pm