WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Thomas Alan Frisbie, age 52, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, surrounded by his family in Kalamazoo, after a valorous 12-year battle with multiple myeloma.
He was born Aug. 18, 1958, in Sturgis, the first child of James and Barbara (Hagelgans) Frisbie, and grew up in Colon. He graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1976, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball and Kalamazoo Valley Community College with a degree in business.
He retired from American Axle and Manufacturing (formerly GM Hydramatic) in Three Rivers. Tom spent over 30 years as a registered official for basketball and baseball at the high school and college levels, reaching the MHSAA State finals in both sports.
On July 30, 1994, he married Laura Wagner in the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis, after which they moved to Fisher Lake area. When Tom became ill in 1999, Laura converted to Catholicism and they were married again at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Mendon on July 31, 1999, the same day their only child, Tyler, was baptized.
Tom is survived by his strong, loving and dedicated family: wife Laura; son Tyler, at home; his parents James and Barbara Frisbie of Colon; two sisters: Elizabeth (Tim) Barrington of Burr Oak and Jean (Randy) Kramb of Colon; three brothers: Charles (Kathleen) Frisbie of Constantine; Steven (Lorene) Frisbie of Battle Creek; and William (Kristen) Frisbie of Colon; his mother-in-law, Barbara Wagner of Bronson; three brothers-in-law: Benjamin Wagner of Kalamazoo; john (Sharon) Wagner of Vicksburg; and Michael Wagner of Vicksburg; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wayne and Wilma Hagelgans and Lloyd and Laura Frisbie; and his father-in-law, Richard Wagner.
Tom was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Mendon. He also was a proud member of the Kalamazoo Officials Association and the National Association of Sports Officials. Tom loved spending time with his family, following Detroit and the University of Michigan sports teams and playing Texas Hold ‘Em with his brothers and friends. He was known for his encyclopedic memory of all things in the realm of sports. He loved the mechanics of the sports he officiated and wanted nothing more than to call a good, fair game.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 1-4 p.m. Sunday and from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon, with a Rosary service at 8 p.m. Monda.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 330 W. State St. in Mendon, with Fr. James Vinh Le, Celebrant. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon
If desired, memorials in Tom’s name can be made to either the Mendon Athletic Boosters or to the Mayo Clinic, Attention: Martha Q. Lacy, MD, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905. Dr. Lacy, who has guided Tom’s treatment from the beginning, will direct memorials to any one of several research funds for multiple myeloma at the Mayo Clinic. Tom and his family are very grateful for Dr. Lacy and her associates for their expert and loving care during the 12 years Tom fought mm.
