Thomas Robert Anderson

Thomas Robert Anderson, 74, died doing what he loved outdoors, surrounded by the home in which he built, on May 1, 2024. He was born in Flint on September 19, 1949 to parents Thomas Anderson and Mary Eva Simsack. Everyone who loved him, knew him as Tom. His childhood summers were fondly spent on the Gladwin farm, picking green beans with his preceding siblings Sharon Anger, Jim Anderson and Kenny Anderson. He was a graduate of Northwestern High School, class of ’67, and went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and math from Western Michigan University. Tom was a natural athlete, finding joy in baseball, basketball, football and hockey. The ice was by far his favorite; he played league hockey and skated well into his 50’s. He loved building and fixing all things and spent a 30-year long career doing so as an automotive engineer for General Motors Proving Grounds.

Tom married Kathleen Gavulic Anderson, his life partner and wife of 46 years, in April of 1978. They lived in a house in Fenton, in which they fixed and rebuilt and expanded over the years with the support of extended family and friends. This is where they built a life and family together, welcoming two children, Jennifer Modesto (Manel) and Ashley Worden (Ben). Tom was an exceptional father. He loved by being present. From coaching his daughter’s sports teams to mentoring them through their growth and development, he was there for everything. Tom was the model grandparent. He assisted in raising three ever so curious and thoughtful grandkids, Stella, Ethan and Bernie. Tom was a good neighbor and an exemplary friend. If anyone needed help, he was there to support them. Tom was a man of his word. His integrity meant everything. He wanted things to be right, not just done right but built right, and spent the first decade of his retirement working on fuel emissions for the Environmental Protective Agency. Tom was a good human – loving, supportive, kind. His recurring advice was not to sweat the small stuff, however the loss of his life was so big. He touched so many lives with his presence. Tom’s memory lives on in all of us.

Visitation services will be held at Sharp Funeral Home, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 2 PM – 8 PM, with stories from friends and family shared at 7 PM. Funeral services will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 N Adelaide St.,  Fenton on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 11 AM, with visitation beginning at 10 AM.