Thomas Howing

Thomas Nickolas Howing of Grand Rapids, MI died Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at the age of 59. He was born June 30, 1961 in Kalamazoo MI. He was the son of Frederick and Ellen (Siemsen) Howing. Tom's love for gardening and nature started at age 15 with his first job at Wedel's Nursery. His green thumb continued as he went on to become a MSU Certified Nurseryman in 1982. He was a graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School with the class of 1979. He attended Calvin College and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1983. Tom enjoyed making large meals for his family during summer trips to Beaver Island and he always ensured everyone had a hearty breakfast before early morning fishing trips on Lake Geneserath. On September 12, 1992, he married Mary McGuire who survives him. He was preceded in death by his father in 2009. Surviving to mourn his passing is his wife, Mary; his sons, Nick (Colleen) Howing of Kalamazoo, Andrew and Matthew Howing of Grand Rapids; Mother, Ellen Howing; Sister, Deb (Steve) Terpstra; Nephew, Jeff (Kelly) Terpstra; Niece, Stephanie (Andrew Brinkert) Gernaat, and his beloved great nieces and nephews all of Kalamazoo. Visitation will be held at the Second Christian Reformed Church, 3015 Nichols Rd, Kalamazoo on Sunday, April 25th from 2 pm to 4 pm. A private funeral will be held this summer on Tom's beloved Beaver Island. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the organization that sponsored Tom's experimental cancer treatment trial: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) at 1776 Sacramento Street #601, San Francisco CA, 94109.