Thomas William Stumpf

Tom graduated from North Side High School in 1957 and pursued additional coursework at IPFW.

In his teens, he began playing hockey which grew into a three-decade long passion. Along with many others, he helped put amateur hockey on the map in Fort Wayne, playing for the Pepsi Komets and Glenbrook Komets. He was an all-star with the Midwest Amateur Hockey League and the Senior Open Hockey League. He led the Indiana State Champion roller hockey team in 1962 that went on to finish national runner-up in the American Roller Skating Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. He set several records in Fort Wayne’s annual Ice Skating Derby in speed skating events in the early 1960s.

In 1962 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country from 1962-1964, when he was honorably discharged. Tom then worked as a Material Handling Specialist at Navistar for 30 years, ensuring parts arrived on time to build International Harvester and Navistar trucks and school buses.

He coached youth hockey and baseball for many years, influencing hundreds of kids and instilling in them the values of hard work, preparation, teamwork and good sportsmanship. His son, Jeff, and nephew, Kevin, benefited greatly from his love of youth sports.

He retired in 1998 to enjoy the Indiana Dunes, riding his bike around Fort Wayne, visiting Raccoon Lake with his son, friends, and family, and cheering on his favorite sports teams—the Fort Wayne Komets, Chicago Cubs, and Indiana Hoosiers. He enjoyed playing in and organizing the Canterbury Green Men’s Golf Club and hosting card game evenings. His bike rides through the city often led to visits with his brother, Dick, to debate society’s challenges, signifying the lifelong bond they maintained.

As his grandchildren were born and grew older, he enjoyed teaching them to play checkers, chess, card games, and completing puzzles. He shared with them his values of helping out, fixing things that needed fixing, spending time with family and working to live rather than living to work.

He is survived by his son, Jeff Stumpf (Tricia) of Bloomington, IN; brother, Dick Stumpf (Terri), sister, Beverly Giant, both of Fort Wayne, IN; and four grandchildren, George Stumpf, Benedict Stumpf, Madalynn Riveire and Jack Riveire; his former wife, Judy Stumpf, of Fort Wayne, IN, with whom he remained friends; and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marilyn Moore; and brother-in-law, Red Moore.

Memorial Visitation will be from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Friday June 14, 2024, at D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home 1140 Lake Ave Fort Wayne, IN. Family and friends will share brief reflections on Tom’s life at 4:45 p.m.

In honor of the tens of thousands of miles that Tom rode his bike in Fort Wayne, memorial donations may be made to Fort Wayne Trails, Inc. at this link. https://fwtrails.org/support-us/one-time-donation/ - Please visit the website or copy & paste the above link to your search browser.

Tom’s family would like to express appreciation to the wonderful teams at the Parkview Heart Institute and Parkview Hospice for their care and compassion.