WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Tom Douglas Quake, Sr., 71, took his final road trip Thursday, July 25, 2013 in Kankakee, Ill. We cannot count all the friends he made in his 3.5 million miles of road travel in his lifetime. Everyone wanted to sit next to Tom as he always had an enjoyable story to tell. Tom spent many years in different cities including Fort Myers, Fla. and Greenville, S.C., but Three Rivers was always his home. Almost everyone in the community knew Tom, and so many loved him. If Three Rivers had a social director/historian, Tom could have been it. Tom was a gentle, kind soul who possessed a brilliant mind, yet was entirely self-effacing.
Tom was a Vietnam Veteran and honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He worked at Continental Can in Three Rivers for a few years before joining the Kalamazoo Fire Department (DPS) where he worked his way up to Fire Chief. He retired from Kalamazoo in 1985 and then worked on the Three Rivers Fire Department for many years to mentor his younger brother and continue serving the community he loved so much.
He was a longtime member of the Lions Club. Lion Tom was past President of the Fort Myers Lions Club and three-time past President of Three Rivers Lions Club. He was on the board of directors for Wake Up America Food Bank and was also Executive Secretary for his ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Tom was always active and filled his life full to the brim. He loved the game of softball and always could be found as teammate on his son’s and nephew’s teams. He loved adventures from rappelling and parachuting to motorcycles and racecars. Recently he was active helping local Boy Scouts earn their merit badges. He achieved second degree black belt with his son in Tae Kwon Do. He also was a successful competitive league bowler and bowled many years in the Peterson Classic.
He leaves to cherish his loving memory sons Tom (Stacy) Quake, Jr. of Houston, Texas and Terry (Natalia) Quake of Cape Coral, Fla.; grandchildren, Cole and Kimber Quake, Zachary and Matthew Quake, Julia and Angela Sokolova, and Alex Sokolov; brothers Larry (Judy) of South Haven and George (Kim) Phillips of Three Rivers; nieces/nephews, Penny (Randy) Ream, Lari Roberts, Cori Lynn Phillips and Joey (Sandi) Phillips as well as a number of cherished friends.
Tom was born in Elkhart, Ind. on March 21, 1942 to Charles Jay and Joyce Illene (Foreman) Quake who preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers, MI 49093 on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. with Bishop Brett Wierschke officiating.
Memorials in memory of Tom may be designated to the Three Rivers Fire Fighters Association or the Three Rivers Lions Club. Envelopes available at Hohner Funeral Home in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hohnerfh.com
