Thomas “Tom ” Ernest Straubel

Thomas “Tom” Ernest Straubel, age 84 of Calumet Township, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Tom was born on February 23, 1939 in Taylor, Michigan to L.D. Straubel and Grace (Oberstaedt) Laemmel who preceded him in death.

“TES” married into this crazy family marrying the love of his life of 62 years, Mary Jane (Thomas) Straubel on July 8, 1961 in South Holland, Illinois.

Tom was a busy, nonstop family man. He was an outdoor person who loved fishing, hunting, working in the garden and keeping up with his and MJ’s little acre where he built their home in 1972 and raised his beautiful family that he loved and cared for. Tom loved to laugh at his own jokes but when his dirty minded daughter would come in with the dirty jokes his face would light up even more. This man could dance the night away and even had the moves. He and his daughter would be up on that dance floor all night long. He loved his sweets, especially his donuts, ice cream, chocolate and of course his cherry pie. Tom loved riding his motorcycle, camping, bowling, ice skating, and water skiing. He also loved to watch his Westerns until the very end. This man could build anything and fix anything even if he “Tom Rigged” it. Tom loved working on his farm, whether it was taking care of his animals or just tidying up his place. He really loved his chickens and goats. He loved building ramps for skateboarding for his grandson, train tracks for the one in heaven and forts for his other grandchildren. It was nothing to see G-PA on the floor playing blocks, dolls, cars, you name it. His grandchildren meant the world to him and it was nothing to see him making funny videos with them even if he were tired or in pain.

Tom was in the National Guard while living in Michigan. The companies that were blessed enough to have him as an employee were American Bridge as an angle bender, Tube Works, driving a euc truck for International Mill Service, a bouncer for Stage 1, an owner for Tammy’s Ceramics, owner of Family Ties Pierogi Wagon and was a maintenance supervisor for the Griffith School System until his stroke. He was a volunteer with the Lake Ridge Volunteer Fire Department for around six years with his daughter, coached softball at Longfellow Little League for his daughters’ teams, and was on the crash truck team for racing for two years at the race tracks.

The ones he left behind to miss him like crazy are his children: Cynthia Straubel, Tammy Straubel, Tracy (Mike) Griffin, Nicky (Daniel, his favorite Son-in-Law) Rubalcava, Anthony (Amy) Thomas, Ashley Thomas, and son-in-law, Terry Dodson; grandchildren: Christina, Michael, Randy, Thomas, Theresa, Cory (Kelsey), Tammy Love, Erin (Jason), Jill (James), Trent, Shawn, Ashton, Makayla, Estie, Eleyna and D; 18 great grandchildren for all we know; brothers: Bobby (Pat) Laemmel and Jerry “Rocky” Laemmel; brothers-in-law: Jack Grubbs and Casey Jones; sisters: Penny (Tommy) Warner and Cheryl Straubel; sisters-in-law: Sandy Laemmel, Betty Lou Burk and Pam Lowden; and tons of nieces and nephews that he loved dearly and would always give a hard time too!!

To the ones he gets to reunite with: his daughter: Colleen Dodson; his loving grandson that he always made peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for and allowed multiple tv’s with different movies to play at the same time, Mitchell Thomas; brothers: James Straubel and John Laemmel; brothers-in-law: Mick Thomas, Fred Lowden, and Larry Burk; sisters: Bonnie Mahlak and Tammy Jones; sisters-in-law: Kathy Thomas and Catherine Grubbs.

We were blessed enough to have him for almost 10 more years after his stroke in 2014. Our family would love to give Thanks to God for providing us with the Drs’ and nurses that kept him going for those years. We also want to praise God for lending us such an amazing Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Uncle that any family could ever ask for. You will be truly missed beyond words Thomas E.! May you enjoy living pain free and all the things you love in your Heavenly Home. You fought a good fight & we couldn’t thank you more for that!

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Shorewood Clubhouse, 410 Shorewood Court, Valparaiso, IN 46385 from 11:00 am until the time of service at 12:30 with Pastor Brian Burk Officiating . An additional visitation will be held from 1-30 pm until 4:00 pm. Our family would love to thank everyone for all the prayers, love, calls, and text that we received during this time.

To sign online guestbook or leave condolences, please visit: www.southshorecremation.com.