Thomas Fred Walchak Jr.

Thomas Fred Walchak Jr. of Kentwood, Michigan age 77 passed away on Monday, September 4, 2023.
He was born to Thomas and Ermal Walchak (Coffman) on April 15, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan.

Tom was the youngest of 3 children and as a child moved with his family to Manchester, Michigan
where he grew up on the family dairy farm and graduated from Manchester High School.

Tom met his lifelong partner, Norma Jean Walchak (Frederick) of Adrian, Michigan at Wamplers Lake in
Brooklyn, Michigan. They wed on March 11, 1967 and remained married for 56 years until Norma’s
passing in April of this year.

Living in Manchester on the Walchak family farm, Tom and Norma welcomed two sons into the world,
Eric Walchak now of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Scott Walchak now of Catonsville, Maryland.
Norma and Tom moved to Brighton, Michigan and then Pinckney, Michigan, raising their two young
boys while enjoying the many activities of their community, the schools, and eventually life on Portage
Lake.

Tom was a lifelong lineman working for Detroit Edison and a member of the IBEW. He worked in the
worst of conditions to ensure millions of families in Southeast Michigan had energy and yet brought
energy to his family through his playful smile, quiet good nature, and love for games and family time.
His pride and joy were his sons, their families, and the 7 grandchildren that survive him. He loved to do
yard work and maintain the family home and could often be found after a hard day’s work relaxing with
a beer under the carport. He was a reluctant traveler but always enjoyed visiting friends and family
once he arrived, and made it to such places as Washington, D.C., Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, and
innumerable trips ‘up North’ in Michigan. He served as an usher of the St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church in Kentwood, Michigan.

Tom is survived by one sister, Donna England, of Chandler, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his
beloved wife, Norma Walchak, his parents, and one sister, Katherine Ludlow of Phoenix, Arizona.

There will be a time of visitation from 2:00-5:00pm on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Ofield Funeral
Home, 4500 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Kentwood, Michigan 49508.

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