- Date Of Birth: 1945
- Date Of Death: 2014
- State: Michigan
Obituary of Thomas V. Kretschmer
Thomas Vincent Kretschmer, Jr. died Tuesday, February 4th, 2014. Tom Kretschmer was a father, a grandfather, a teacher, an outdoorsman, a brother to seven, a golfer, a fisherman, a skier, a cook, and a friend. Tom was a big brother who captained both the football and basketball teams at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He was the teacher who never let on to his students what a big softie he was inside. He was the retiree who turned 10 again the minute he stepped into Walt Disney World. We already miss him greatly. Tom was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on September 24, 1945 soon after his father, Dr. Thomas V. Kretschmer Sr. returned from the medical corps after the war. As mentioned, Tom was the first of eight children. Growing up on Meredith Street and later, Remington Street meant large family cookouts, pool parties, toboggan runs at Hoyt Park, summers at East Tawas and Christmases where the food, wine, presents and love were plentiful. Tom attended St. Maryʼs Cathedral School, graduating in 1963. His size, ability and leadership skills made him a natural on both the court and the field. Tom went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio in 1967. Tom also earned a Masters in Education from Saginaw Valley State University. Tom was a well liked and congenial teacher in the Hemlock school system for over 30 years, where his many students today remember a gruff but caring instructor who was eager to help them discover and appreciate the world of science. He also was the golf coach at Hemlock High School and was brave and patient enough to teach driverʼs training for many years. Tom and his wife Diane Van Vlaenderen Kretschmer had two boys, Matthew Thomas and Mark Alan. Growing up in Michigan meant countless winter ski weekends at Boyne and summer weeks relaxing on a lake. A favorite retreat was the coast of Maine, where Tom and his family were to spend 30 summer vacations enjoying friends, food and the scenery of the East Coast.
: Friends are welcome to visit at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.
DC Fund, 525 N. Maple St, Hemlock, MI. 48616.
