Tom Flynn

How lucky we were to have Tom Flynn in our lives! Whether he was our Brother, Uncle, Friend, Boss or Colleague, he added respect, trust, goodness, laughter and candor to the lives of those around him. With a steadfast work ethic and commitment to doing what is right, Tom enjoyed his life's work and the many opportunities it brought his way. Family and friends were the center of Tom's life. A special man in the lives of many people, Tom will be dearly missed.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on November 24, 1948, Thomas Valentine Flynn was the son of C. L. "Bud" and Margrete (Valentine) Flynn. His father owned and operated Flynn’s Soup’er Burger before becoming a real estate appraiser. His mother, a homemaker, remained at home with Tom, the third of eventually five children. Growing up alongside his siblings, Michael, Nancy, Kevin, and LeeAnn, Tom was the neighborhood paper boy, delivering the Kalamazoo Gazette. His paper route gave Tom an early start on his lifelong guiding principles of hard work, honesty and commitment to customer service.

While in high school, Tom worked at David Blair clothing store in the Southland Mall, which was conveniently located near their home on South Westnedge. Tom began working there at the age of 15, and over time worked his way up to managing the store. Tom graduated from Portage Northern High School with the Class of 1966; the first class to graduate from the school. In fact, he served on the committee which chose the school's mascot, colors and fight song.

Following high school, Tom attended Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. He studied there for a year before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Tom completed Basic Training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as a Clerk Typist. At the insistence of his father, Tom learned how to type while in high school. Although his father had also instructed him never to volunteer while in the Army, that advice was disregarded when shortly after landing in Vietnam, the request for volunteers included anyone with the ability to type. The entire Flynn family was grateful Tom spent his tour of duty in an office typing, rather than in combat.

After returning home from the service, Tom found a job working at Gilmore’s Department Store. Ever the hard and conscientious worker, he worked his way up the ladder and became the buyer for the men’s store. Tom was at work in Gilmore’s on the afternoon of May 13, 1980, when a tornado struck the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, tearing off the back of the department store. In his usual manner of looking after everyone, Tom was ushering employees to safety up until the moment the tornado struck, and then immediately afterward began digging through rubble trying to help the injured.

After leaving Gilmore's, Tom began working in radio, first for WMSH in Sturgis, Michigan, and then for Forum Communications. He started in sales, but again, Tom earned his way to become the General Manager of WQXC and WZUU. Tom also spent 28 years working security for Wing’s Stadium, eventually being named as the Director of Security. Tom loved his jobs, both at the radio station and at Wings Stadium. It never mattered what Tom was doing, he gave it his all, and then some. A true people person, with unwavering integrity, he always made a positive and dedicated contribution of his time and talents.

At the core of Tom's life was his unending love and appreciation for family. He was raised learning how important family was from the time he was just a kid. His mother's big Sunday dinners created important family ties. As the family grew to include new generations of nieces and nephews, gatherings continued at the family home on West Lake, and Tom didn't want it any other way. Even though his family is now spread throughout the country, his home continued to be the meeting place for family get-togethers.

Tom set the standard on how to be the best uncle his nieces and nephews could have had. From the moment they were born, he possessed a very special, incredible relationship with each of them which he truly treasured. Whenever the nieces introduced a friend or date to the family, it was always important that the person pass the “Uncle Tom Test.” If Uncle Tom didn’t think much of the person, it was not likely the rest of the family would be seeing much of them in the future.

Tom was fond of Hawaii, and visited there several times. Tom was also an avid baseball fan; he enjoyed his collection of baseball cards, autographs, and memorabilia and attended both a World Series and an All Star game. He was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, as well as Notre Dame football. Tom also got great joy from his dog, Sullivan (Sully).

After being diagnosed with cancer in January 2012, Tom didn't allow the disease to get him down. He faced the diagnosis bravely, often receiving his chemotherapy infusions in the morning and then going to the office directly afterward. The Flynn family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to Sue Noel for her friendship and devotion to Tom. They both faced the diagnosis and the battle with grace and dignity.

Tom Flynn added greatly to the lives around him. Tom's pleasant demeanor, sense of humor and inherent goodness serve as an example to all who were fortunate to know and love him.

Thomas V. Flynn, age 65, of Portage, died on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Learn more about Tom and visit with his family and friends on Thursday from 5-8 pm at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900), where services will be held at 1 pm on Friday. Burial will take place at Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park with military honors provided by Comstock VFW Post #6252. Members of his family include his siblings: Nancy Flynn, Kevin (Kelly) Flynn and LeeAnn Flynn Hall; seven nieces and nephews: Brooke Flynn (Scott Schultz), Jenni (Jared) Stull, Kelley (Rob) Antcliff, Michael Thomas Flynn, Jacob Flynn, Madelyn Flynn and Samantha Hall; five great nieces and nephews: Andrew Taylor, Addison Antcliff, Ella Antcliff, Mackenzie Stull and Cooper Stull; and his longtime friend, Sue Noel. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother, Michael. Please visit Tom’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Humane Society.