Thomas A. Callis, age 76, of Kentwood, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 13, 2026, surrounded by his family.

He was born on February 22, 1949, in Grand Rapids, a son of the late Nickolas & Margaret Callis. He was a proud West-sider and graduate of West Catholic High School.

He married the love of his life, Patricia Jo Pickem, on April 28, 1973, and they journeyed through it all together for nearly 53 years, raising two relatively well-adjusted children and a few dogs of varying temperament along the way.

Tom proudly served his country as an Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of Sergeant and holding a top-secret security clearance in cryptology. We’d tell you more, but Tom was tight-lipped about his life in general and his military experience in particular.

Tom worked for several employers over the course of his career, primarily as a network manager and technician, where his love of logic and puzzles served him well.

He enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and interests: karate (third-degree black belt and instructor); researching and recreating historically accurate archery contests; military history (especially Greek or Scottish); playing and teaching chess; family and clan history; gun and knife collecting; prayer; prophecy; and planning puzzle-driven road rallies before The Amazing Race was even a thing.

Tom was a longtime member of Grand Rapids First and an avid participant at the West Michigan Prayer Center, where he cemented his reputation as a man of God and mighty warrior of prayer.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Callis; children, Amanda Roozeboom (Russ) and Nathaniel (Hannah); grandchildren, Emma and Ivy Wood; sibling, Keith (MaryBeth); and nephew, Nick.

Visitation will take place from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm on Friday, February 20, at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St SW, Wyoming, via Door M. A funeral service will follow at noon.

To leave a message for the family, please visit www.OfieldFuneralHome.com.