Obituary for Thomas Vanderplow
Vanderplow, Thomas Henry
Tom, age 77, was born in N. Muskegon and resided in Grand Rapids, was called home to his Heavenly Father on Monday, March 13, 2023. He was a beloved son, husband, father, brother, uncle and friend, and will be deeply missed by family and friends.
Tom’s passions for life brought him much joy. He loved all sports and participated in as many as life allowed. He started caddying at the age of 12 at Pontaluna Golf Course in Muskegon, MI, which set his path for life. After graduating from Muskegon Heights, he attended Muskegon Community College, then went on to become a MI PGA Golf Professional. After working at Green Ridge Country Club, Blythefield Country Club and Sugar Loaf he became owner of Golden Tee, then the Arnold Palmer Driving Range, and Miniature Golf. Not only did Tom make many long friendships through golf, he was known for his long drives and the countless hours of giving many golf lessons over his long career. Tom was also a very accomplished trap and skeet shooter winning multiple Top Gun awards at gun clubs in the Grand Rapids area. Tom also enjoyed travel, but his first love was hunting. Come September nothing excited him more than to start preparing to go hunting either out west, Canada or Alaska with his family and friends.
Tom (“Plow” to friends) is survived by his wife Sherry (Sheryl Carr), wife of 36 years, his sons, Scott (Ellen Cooper Vanderplow), Steve, daughter Stacey (Nelson) Mendez of Dallas, TX, stepdaughter Jennifer (Scott) Andersen and sister Laurel Vanderplow Ziegler, and first wife Paula Wilson Padar. Grandchildren, Shalin (Brandon) Kober, Reece Vanderplow, George Asimakopoulos, Mia and Jacob Mendez, and great grandchildren, Charleigh, Emerson and Eli Kober, and very special friend Rod Obermiller. Tom is preceded in death by parents Bill & Lillian Vanderplow of Muskegon, sister Diane, brother Dale, and brother-in-law Jim Ziegler.
The family would like to thank Spectrum Hospice for their kind and gentle care. A celebration of life will be held April 15 at 11:00am, at the Rockford Sportsman’s Club in Rockford, with Pastor John Campbell officiating. Donations in Tom’s honor can be made to Grace Fellowship Church, 735 Buth DR NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321.
Tom, age 77, was born in N. Muskegon and resided in Grand Rapids, was called home to his Heavenly Father on Monday, March 13, 2023. He was a beloved son, husband, father, brother, uncle and friend, and will be deeply missed by family and friends.
Tom’s passions for life brought him much joy. He loved all sports and participated in as many as life allowed. He started caddying at the age of 12 at Pontaluna Golf Course in Muskegon, MI, which set his path for life. After graduating from Muskegon Heights, he attended Muskegon Community College, then went on to become a MI PGA Golf Professional. After working at Green Ridge Country Club, Blythefield Country Club and Sugar Loaf he became owner of Golden Tee, then the Arnold Palmer Driving Range, and Miniature Golf. Not only did Tom make many long friendships through golf, he was known for his long drives and the countless hours of giving many golf lessons over his long career. Tom was also a very accomplished trap and skeet shooter winning multiple Top Gun awards at gun clubs in the Grand Rapids area. Tom also enjoyed travel, but his first love was hunting. Come September nothing excited him more than to start preparing to go hunting either out west, Canada or Alaska with his family and friends.
Tom (“Plow” to friends) is survived by his wife Sherry (Sheryl Carr), wife of 36 years, his sons, Scott (Ellen Cooper Vanderplow), Steve, daughter Stacey (Nelson) Mendez of Dallas, TX, stepdaughter Jennifer (Scott) Andersen and sister Laurel Vanderplow Ziegler, and first wife Paula Wilson Padar. Grandchildren, Shalin (Brandon) Kober, Reece Vanderplow, George Asimakopoulos, Mia and Jacob Mendez, and great grandchildren, Charleigh, Emerson and Eli Kober, and very special friend Rod Obermiller. Tom is preceded in death by parents Bill & Lillian Vanderplow of Muskegon, sister Diane, brother Dale, and brother-in-law Jim Ziegler.
The family would like to thank Spectrum Hospice for their kind and gentle care. A celebration of life will be held April 15 at 11:00am, at the Rockford Sportsman’s Club in Rockford, with Pastor John Campbell officiating. Donations in Tom’s honor can be made to Grace Fellowship Church, 735 Buth DR NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321.