1922
Thomas
2012
Thomas Shew
June 21, 1922 — February 22, 2012
Thomas J. “Tom” Shew, 89 of Battle Creek passed away Wednesday February 22, 2012 at Borgess Hospital after having had a stroke, with his loving family at his side.
He was born in Kimmell, Indiana to Paul and Emily (Burnsworth) Shew on June 21, 1922. Tom was 15 years of age when he moved to Michigan to live with his older sister and her husband in Battle Creek and Marshall, working at various restaurants in the area and attending school at Marshall High School until he was drafted into the Army in December of 1942. He served in the 755th Railroad Shop Battalion in Northern France, Ardennes, the Rhineland and the United Kingdom from 1942 until his honorable discharge in December of 1945. After his discharge from the Army he continued civilian Railroad employment and worked for the New York Central, ConRail and Amtrak Systems until his retirement in June 1983 after a career of nearly 42 years. He married the love of his life, his wife Louise A. Western in 1950 at the Olive Street Friends Church and they enjoyed a happy and productive life together for 61 years. Surviving are his wife Louise, daughter Patricia L. (Jay) Shew-Roffey of Charlotte and son Thomas M. (Renee) Shew of Tucson, Arizona. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Gina (James) Snyder, Mark Shew, Sarah Shew, Brady Roffey, Michael Shew, Chase Mueller, Cole Mueller and one great-grandchild Jason Douglas Snyder. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Evelyn and Gwen and brothers: James and Clyde. Tom loved anything “trains” and enjoyed traveling to Chicago often to visit friends and lunching with his “train buddies” in Battle Creek on a monthly basis. He was an active member the Boy Scout Men’s Counsel, Wattles Park Men’s Club and of the Battle Creek Friends Church where he was an usher and greeter for many of his 64 years of membership there. He was known for his infectious laugh and sense of humor, funny sayings and endless stories about his childhood, family, the railroad and his days in the Army. He enjoyed all children and kept track of all of the neighborhood children over the years, watching them grow and attending their sporting events. Tom had an endless love of life in general. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 26 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home where friends and family will be received at 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Battle Creek Friends Church 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012, officiated by Pastor Kelly Hadlich. Committal and internment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek Friends Church building fund, 1305 Olive Street, Battle Creek, MI. 49014.
He was born in Kimmell, Indiana to Paul and Emily (Burnsworth) Shew on June 21, 1922. Tom was 15 years of age when he moved to Michigan to live with his older sister and her husband in Battle Creek and Marshall, working at various restaurants in the area and attending school at Marshall High School until he was drafted into the Army in December of 1942. He served in the 755th Railroad Shop Battalion in Northern France, Ardennes, the Rhineland and the United Kingdom from 1942 until his honorable discharge in December of 1945. After his discharge from the Army he continued civilian Railroad employment and worked for the New York Central, ConRail and Amtrak Systems until his retirement in June 1983 after a career of nearly 42 years. He married the love of his life, his wife Louise A. Western in 1950 at the Olive Street Friends Church and they enjoyed a happy and productive life together for 61 years. Surviving are his wife Louise, daughter Patricia L. (Jay) Shew-Roffey of Charlotte and son Thomas M. (Renee) Shew of Tucson, Arizona. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Gina (James) Snyder, Mark Shew, Sarah Shew, Brady Roffey, Michael Shew, Chase Mueller, Cole Mueller and one great-grandchild Jason Douglas Snyder. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Evelyn and Gwen and brothers: James and Clyde. Tom loved anything “trains” and enjoyed traveling to Chicago often to visit friends and lunching with his “train buddies” in Battle Creek on a monthly basis. He was an active member the Boy Scout Men’s Counsel, Wattles Park Men’s Club and of the Battle Creek Friends Church where he was an usher and greeter for many of his 64 years of membership there. He was known for his infectious laugh and sense of humor, funny sayings and endless stories about his childhood, family, the railroad and his days in the Army. He enjoyed all children and kept track of all of the neighborhood children over the years, watching them grow and attending their sporting events. Tom had an endless love of life in general. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 26 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home where friends and family will be received at 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Battle Creek Friends Church 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012, officiated by Pastor Kelly Hadlich. Committal and internment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek Friends Church building fund, 1305 Olive Street, Battle Creek, MI. 49014.
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