Thomas Andrew Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Thomas Andrew, 79, died just after sunrise on Friday, June 24 at his home in Florida, Ohio with his daughter Angela by his side. Tom was born on April 14, 1943, at the Andrew family home in Florida. Because an ice storm prevented the doctor’s arrival, two neighbor ladies delivered him. He began working at the age of 6, farming with his Grandpa Frederick and loving every minute of it. He had a variety of jobs all through school including newspaper deliverer, bowling alley pinsetter, pickle sorter, popcorn husker, and strawberry picker. Tom graduated from Florida High School in 1961 and joined the Air Force after graduation. He served his country as a guidance system specialist in Okinawa, Cape Canaveral, and Michigan, earning the rank of E4 Airman First Class. He was honorably discharged in 1965. He always said his country gave him more than he ever gave to her, including an education, food, housing and clothing. After the military, he bummed around (his words) for four years, finally settling on a career as an ironworker with Ironworkers Local 147 in 1969. He married Lillian Rausch in July of 1969, and they divorced. On May 1, 1998, he married Ruth Whitman and retired the very same day at the age of 55. Ruth died on November 2, 2021. In 1990, Tom became a part of the Advanced Racing Team and was a body/tire man for their Formula Ford 1600 and 2000. The team also made parts for Roush Racing. For 17 years during his retirement, Tom constructed trailing frames for PET Carts. These hand-pedaled carts were sent all over the world and gifted to people who had lost their legs to war, accident, or disease. This gift enabled them to get their goods to market, provided them with the means to get to work, and increased their quality of life. Tom, along with his brother Dallas, made 22,000 carts at their shop in Florida. Tom made another 1,000 carts at the shop in Mission, Texas. He was part of a team that erected small residential houses in Mexico, helping to build 20 homes in total. Tom enjoyed many fishing trips to Lake Erie and Agnew Lake, Canada, he grew tomatoes and zinnias from seed, and was proud to be a Winter Texan for 22 years. Tom especially enjoyed polka music, travelling extensively all over the country and winning trophies for his dancing. Tom is survived by his daughter Angela (Mark) Tonjes of Malinta, and daughter Tina (Scott) Lawrence of Kernersville, North Carolina. His beloved son Steven died in October 2014. Tom has three grandsons: Zachary Tonjes of New Albany, Dylan (Courtney) Tonjes of Deshler, and Seth Tonjes of Malinta. He has one granddaughter, Sienna Lawrence of Kernersville. Tom is also survived by siblings Grace, Dallas, Kay, Dorty, Willie, and David. He was preceded in death by siblings Ruth, John, Dick, Nancy, Mary, and Randy. His many friends from all over the country were a very important part of his life, and he considered his fellow polka dancers as family. The Tonjes family is eternally grateful for all the cards, letters, food, and visits over the last months. With his sense of humor intact, Tom was kind, generous, and grateful until the end. Visitation will be held at Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon on Saturday, July 2 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Florida on Sunday, July 3 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation at 12:00. Lunch will be served after the funeral at the Emporium in Napoleon, with German food and live polka music. Memorial contributions will be designated to Handcrank Transportation in Penitas, Texas, to enable the construction and delivery of more carts to Mexico. Online messages and condolences may be shared with the family at rodenbergergray.com.

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Thomas Andrew

April 14, 1943 - June 24, 2022