Obituaries

Thomas M. Pare’

Died Jan. 6, 2016

SUTTONS BAY – Thomas Maxime Paré, a longtime Leelanau County resident, passed away at the age of 82 while under home hospice care in Suttons Bay.  A lifelong traveler and raconteur, Tom lived life to the fullest.

  Tom was born on Sep. 8, 1933 in his bootlegger grandfather’s blind pig in Windsor, Ontario.  He moved with his parents and four brothers to Warren, MI in 1950.  After graduating high school, Tom joined the U.S. Army and volunteered to fight in the Korean War where he became a Master Sergeant at the age of 19.

  Returning home, Tom married Marianne Saari with whom he had 3 children: Michele Victoria, Thomas Michael, and David Arthur.  He also began working for the City of Warren, eventually retiring as Deputy Assessor.  He made sure his children loved to travel, through driving vacations to 41 states.

  Tom found a new way to live when he found sobriety.  He was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 38 years, grateful to his sponsors and supportive friends, and glad to be a tough sponsor for many other folks who sought support.

  Prior to retiring and moving to Leelanau County, Tom married Diane Dobiesz-Kostanecki on Sep. 14, 1983.  Together they enjoyed all the pleasures of Up North life and, in other years, Florida life. They enjoyed hosting family and friends at the "Swiss Inn" just south of Leland, and he was famous for his elaborate Christmas displays and portraying Santa.  He had an active "retirement," operating his landscape business as well as working for others who needed help. He was loved by many in Leelanau, and wherever his life adventures took him.

  Tom also enrolled in college at age 62, while living in Florida, making his family proud by earning an Associate Degree in Journalism, which he put to good use.  He was very proud to have achieved a 4.0 grade point average, entitling him to be inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Society.  A lifelong reader and book collector, Tom became a journalist, memoirist, and creative writer.  He was thrilled to have his remembrance added to a book on Windsor bootleggers.

  He leaves behind his beloved wife Diane, brothers Wayne, Brian (Andrea), and Gregg (Barbara); daughter Michele (Richard) Donaldson, son Tom (Ellen) Pare’, and son David (Jeanne) Pare’.  He was a loving grandfather to twelve, and great-grandfather to a small but growing brood.  He also leaves behind thousands of friends whom he helped in many ways.

  Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Olive, his dear brother Brad, his ex-wife Marianne, his godson Todd Michael Paré, and his longtime friends Cpl. Dominic Amato, John Brothers, and Michael Saari.

  You may have known him as Tom, Tommy, Cool Breeze, Tombo, Preacher, Uncle, Grandpa, Prince, or Dad.  No matter your relationship, remember Thomas Maxime Pare’ by helping someone in need and by preserving your own family story through sharing it.  “If a story is in you, it has to come out,” said one of his favorite authors.  And Tom had a lot of stories.

  A celebration for Tom will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Leland Community United Methodist Church.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Reverend Daniel Hofmann will officiate.

  Condolences may be shared with Tom’s family at www.martinson.info.

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Leelanau.