Thomas "Tom" J. Hanchar, 75, of Fort Wayne, passed away on November 27, 2024. He was born on January 10, 1949, in Fort Wayne (Waynedale), Indiana where he lived, worked and raised his family. He served in the Air National Guard and owned multiple businesses. He is best known for The Convalescent Shoppe and his window washing legacy. Tom was in the first class at St. Therese Catholic School and graduated from Bishop Luers High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Brenda L. (Bowers) Hanchar and they enjoyed 33 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2003.
He is survived by his children, Tom (Susie) Hanchar, Nick Hanchar, Heidi (Gianni) Gatto, and Brian Hanchar; grandchildren, Ben, Sam, Zach, and Caroline Hanchar, Sebastian, Christopher, and Quentin Gatto, and Elleanor and Natalie Hanchar; and sister, Linda Lee. Tom was preceded in passing by his parents, Anthony and Betty (Somers) Hanchar; and brother, Anthony (Skip) Hanchar.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at St. Therese Catholic Church 2304 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46819, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am, a luncheon to follow the mass. Memorials may be made to Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF) P.O. Box 6810, Hagerstown, MD 21741-6810.
