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July 10, 2012

Gregory Thomas 'Tom' Stibitz

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HOLT — Gregory Thomas "Tom" Stibitz was born to Charles and Isabelle in Frankfort on Feb. 15, 1949.

Tom and his wife, Sue, raised their children in Munising and lived for the last six years in Holt. He spent a peaceful and contented final week filled with family and friends in Hospice House in Lansing, where he died July 5, 2012. He was 63. With him were his wife and children, Brom and Abby.

Tom graduated from Frankfort High in 1967 and went on to earn an associate's degree in Diesel Mechanics and a BS in Education from Ferris State; a master's in Community College Education from CMU; a BS in Medical Technology from MTU; and a BS in Physical Therapy from Wayne State. He worked at the Alpena General Hospital as a med tech in the early '80s. After working as a physical therapist since 1984, he took a medical retirement in 2003, having worked primarily in home health and nursing homes around the central UP since 1984.

At age 25, Tom was involved in a chemical accident which affected his eyes and lungs. He never let that stop him from living a full life which was centered on his family and friends. His favorite little piece of heaven was the Hamilton Camp on the Tahquamenon River, which naturally included family and friends. There they supposedly fished and hunted. He explained to others that Hamilton Camp was a place where "men become boys and boys become men." Other favorite spots were found on Lakes Michigan and Superior or on any inland lake that might offer up a fish or two. He grew up fishing for perch in Betsie Lake or on the north breakwater and roaming the hills and woods around Frankfort, usually with a shotgun over his shoulder. He continued to explore his entire life.

In February 2009, Tom had a bilateral lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. He was appreciative of the extra years he was given. The transplant allowed him to meet three more grandchildren and he was more than willing to hold any of them until they both were napping. In August 2011, he had another cornea transplant at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. He was excited to be able to see the faces of all his grandkids.

He totally enjoyed his six grandchildren: Alex, Isla and Gemma Taylor; Joey, Leah and Kai Stibitz. Other family survivors include Sue Stibitz, of Holt; Brom and Youngsook Stibitz and Abby and Mike Taylor, all of Okemos; siblings, Henry (Florence), of Alpena, Mary Jane (Harry) Putney, of Frankfort, Gerry (Jody), of South Lyon; sisters-in-law, Jenny Stibitz, of Berkley, Nancy (Mike) Olmstead, of Bellevue, and Ann Haden, of Battle Creek. He has a slew of fun-loving nieces and nephews.

His brother, Chuck, died one day after Tom from complications of a heart attack.

A gathering of family and friends will take place at the home of Mike and Patty Corning near Interlochen on Saturday, July 14. Tom donated his body to MSU's Division of Human Anatomy.

If desired, memorials may be made to The Nifty Thrifty, P.O. Box 206, Eben Jct., MI 49825; the Commission for the Blind, 201 N. Washington Sq. #2, Lansing, MI 48933; or to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, P.O. Box 30480, Lansing, MI 48909-9986.

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