Thomas Anton Ebel

Tom was born in Grand Haven, MI and graduated from West Ottawa High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. As an avid boating enthusiast, he was a long-term member of Macatawa Bay Yacht Club.

Tom is survived by his parents Ron and Cathy Ebel; his sister Leah (Ebel-Stafford) and her husband Todd; nephew Jackson and niece Sara Kate; Aunt Mary and Uncle Dave Vander Hoek; Aunt Jan Schuitema; Aunt Patty and uncle Kevin Brown; as well as numerous cousins. Tom is also survived by many friends he cared for dearly.

A celebration of Tom’s life is being planned for spring or summer and details will be announced when available.

I am Tom’s Dad, Ron. Cathy (Tom’s best friend and Mom) and I want to thank everyone for the many texts, calls, emails, cards, meals, etc. that we’ve received during the past two weeks. The support that we have received demonstrates the passion that those who knew Tom really understood.

We are empty shells with the loss of our precious son. When visiting our daughter (Leah-Tom’s sister) this past week, she expressed the impact that Tom had upon so, many, many lives. Her compassion during the past week helped Cathy and I through a very rough period. The blessing that we all share is our knowledge of Tom’s firm belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. We know Tom has found peace in God’s loving arms. Those loving arms are wrapped around Tom as I write this note.

Unfortunately, the God that Tom loved did not make it easy for our son during his time with us. Tom was a difficult baby and was hospitalized at age 1 for failure to thrive (fussy eater and was losing weight). At age 4, we discovered that Tom was allergic to everything upon the earth (thanks Doctor H., he loved you and we still do). Allergy shots made a tremendous improvement upon his life. At age 11, Cathy and I received a call that Tom had been hit by a pick-up truck going 55 mph in front of our house. That drive for me to the hospital was painful imaging what Tom had been through. Cathy was waiting in the Emergency Room for his arrival. During his high school years, Tom was involved in two car crashes (Evan with one and Ashley another) where both cars were totaled.

On the day after Christmas in 2006, we received the call that no parent should ever receive. The coroner called us and said that Tom had been in a deadly plane crash in the mountains of Tennessee. When Cathy and I flew there the next morning, we found Tom unconscious in the Trauma Unit of the Erlanger University Hospital. We quickly learned that Tom had five breaks to his left arm; bleeding of the frontal left lobe of his brain, multiple spine fractures, paralysis of the left side of his body, cuts and bruises all over his body, etc. Tom was not expected to live. Cathy never left his side. She was Tom’s rock. On 12/29/06 (my birthday), late in the evening, Tom opened his eyes for the first time. What a blessing and the best birthday gift I’ve ever received. For weeks Tom was unable to talk or walk and was transported to Grand Rapids in our Jeep by my fantastic brother-in-law, Dave Vander Hoek. It took months and months for Tom to relearn how to swallow, talk, walk, run, swim, etc. However, Tom had great determination.

Since the plane crash, Tom lived independently and functioned fairly well. For those who knew Tom before the plane crash, we were given a new and revised version of the Tom we used to know and love. Tom once again returned to boating and his love of water-craft; returned to his passion for downhill skiing; continued to surf and swim (best breast stroker ever) and his love of family and friends.

We are amazed at how many lives (in the thousands) Tom touched with his adventures, businesses, sales and partying activities. Cathy, Leah and I cannot let those who knew and loved Tom not have their ability to say goodbye. We are looking at what we can do either within the next few weeks but more likely in the Spring or Summer with some sort of celebration of life party for Tom.

No child should die before their parents. Each day we cry, and cry, and cry. A huge hole is now a part of the remainder of our lives. Please continue to keep Tom and us in your thoughts and prayers. God bless all of you!

Ron and Cathy