Thomas Alan Schilb

Tom was born on April 12, 1967, in Hinsdale Illinois, to parents William Alan and Lynnette Anita. He was the last of their three children and baby brother to sister Cindy and brother Bill.

Tom was gifted with a strong sense of curiosity and wonder of people and the world around him. He loved exploring and learning about everything that crossed his path. As a child, this curiosity led him to collect and sample cigarette butts and chewing gum from public ashtrays, and candy and popcorn he found on the floor in Sears and Kmart stores. The drive to explore was often triggered without warning, leading Tom to run away or sprint suddenly towards danger. Because of this, it was necessary for him to wear a harness and leash in public places to protect him from running into traffic, off a pier, or simply disappearing. During his early years in Illinois he enjoyed riding bikes, fishing, hunting for crayfish, spending holidays with family, including Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins along with regular family vacations to Door County, Wisconsin, and road trips to Washington, DC and Florida.

He attended Glen Park Elementary School in Lombard, Illinois. Tom’s passion for drawing was ignited with his discovery of the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon. He was rarely seen without something he could use to draw or doodle. Tom demonstrated musical talents too, learning to play the piano and the recorder during this time. He also loved helping his dad work on rebuilding cars and motorcycles.

Tom and his family moved to Bellevue, Washington, in 1976. Tom’s curiosity and friendliness made it easy for him to quickly make new friends. Shortly after moving to the hills of Bellevue, he picked up new hobbies including, skateboarding, listening to punk rock music, attending sporting events, especially the Mariners, collecting slugs and other creatures unique to the area. Tom attended Eastgate Elementary, Tyee Junior High, and Newport High School. Tom became a trumpet player in Elementary school and continued to develop musically through Junior High School.

Tom was a member of the Newport Knights football and track teams. He was the lead singer of a band that performed in the school talent show. He loved to socialize with his friends, and making others laugh either with his drawings, strange noises, or by doing impressions of their teachers. He excelled academically, and when the time came to choose which University to attend, rather then follow in the footsteps of his older siblings and attend WSU, he blazed his own trail enrolling at the University of Washington.

As a freshman at the University of Washington, Tom pledged and became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The year he spent as a Husky and a Phi Delt, rewarded Tom with a long list of amazing and exciting stories of “Hell Week.”While this year was incredibly fun he realized that being a Husky wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and corrected his youthful error by enrolling at Washington State University. (GO COUGS)

Tom left Washington State University with a degree in Architecture and a fiancé, Kathy Nagle. Tom and Kathy would marry and settle in the Seattle area, launching their careers as licensed architects. Tom’s interests during this time included powerlifting and learning how to cook exotic and delicious meals. He fermented wild yeast, brewed his own beer, cured meats and baked breads. Tom enjoyed collecting the skulls of animals he discovered on his walks around West Seattle, making cigar box guitars, and drawing, sketching and doodling. His curiosity in people and the world around him compelled him to travel throughout Europe and across the United States. He loved spending time with his family, often cooking for them during holidays and special events. He loved and was fascinated by watching his nieces and nephew grow up and become adults. They in turn loved and admired their Uncle Tom and his many tales and talents.

Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Lynnette Anita Schilb, brother-in-law, Jon Jance and Grandparents Logan and Winifred Schilb and Carl and Bernice Korn.

He is survived by his parents, William A. Schilb and Judith Jance. Sisters, Cindy L. Berry (brother in law Jim Berry), Jeanne Teale Jance. Brother William J. Schilb. Nieces, Lauren Garza (Marcus Garza), Emily Schilb, Rachel Schilb, Audrey Berry, and Celeste Berry and Nephew Colt Jance. He is also survived and will be missed by a large number of friends who also knew and loved him.

No public memorial is planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to The American Cancer Society, or Humane Society in Tom’s name.