There are very few teachers that shape us a young people. Mr. Gahres was that teacher, always willing to listen to a student no matter how trivial. Thank you for all of the kindness and time. You are still in our hearts and stories. Blessings. 

Dear Gahres Family,

I send you my deepest condolences for the loss of your loving husband and father. I was privileged to have him as my tennis coach for three years. I will keep him and all of you in my prayers.

Sincerely,
Michael Martin

Not only my homeroom teacher as the “New Girl” at Mifflin, but my friend!  G always kept in touch to remind me I can do anything I dream if I keep my head straight and always smile.  He single handledly made me fit right in at Mifflin and never cared when I was late as long as I was honest.  I helped him as an assistant with the guys tennis team to meet new friends, and he introduced me to photography and other fun hobbies.  I was fortunate enough to have happy hour with him a few times after moving back to the area and got to introduce him to my husband Pat!  .... I was certain I’d get to do happy hour again....  Rest Easy Mr G!  Thank you for being a guiding light in my life when I truly needed one.  My thoughts and prayers to your family.  💔

Mr. Gahres was my high school graphic arts teacher (I graduated in ‘98). We called him “G” and he was by far my favorite. Whether it was complaining about school or friend drama he always listened. Even today, his wise words “lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine” ring loudly in my head and I have even told my own kids that. He was a very welcoming teacher that truly cared and was laid back and helped us work out our own issues. My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with you all as his family. Please know that he truly impacted me in such a positive way and made me a better person and shaped me into the person, mother, wife and friend I am today. Thank you “G”. 

We had many soccer experiences together. Tom came thru for me to help coach Elco 1st Junior high 2nd team. 25 boys got to enjoy plenty of playing time with the two teams.  Coaching Lauren was a joy . We enjoyed every time we shared with their family. Prayers and thought from our family to your family. Ken and Trudy Hibshman

Mr. Gahres was my tennis coach, friend, and mentor through my four years at Governor Mifflin High School. Tom showed that mutual respect is a large part of being an effective leader by treating students as equals and expecting their best at all times. Tennis practice was more of a life lesson made daily than anything sports related. Because of his charm, we often times spent the entire "practice" without hitting a ball as we just sat on the bleachers joking and talking with him. I know Tom played a large part in shaping the person I am today, and I will always be grateful for his help and advice.  

Steven Ficken

As a Mifflin family we were blessed by Mr. Gahres over two generations. Meeting him first as a wrestling coach and seeing his love for the sport and teaching it to the youth. Many practices I cursed the hard work he made us put in but it taught me a work ethic. I will never like the stairs at the GM intermediate School.  As a student in his Graphic Arts class for 3 years he taught me to think with vision and how art can a part of everyday. Then as a parent watching my daughter have him for 4 years as a Homeroom Teacher. He cared about the kids and would take the time to let them all know they were all individuals on their own paths but had to work together. Much like a wrestling team where your best brings out the best in others. His best truly brought out the best in us all.  Mr. G was an original and always honest and will be forever remembered.

Mr. G was an amazing teacher, so patient in showing me the ropes with the dark room and teaching me how to do better. I’d sometimes get annoyed because I felt like I had done well..and he’d tell me it needed to be better. I scrapped projects thinking I had done my best but ended up creating better ones afterwards. In the end though he just wanted me to do my best which was more than most did for us kids. He was a great person and he will be truly missed. RIP Mr. G. <3

Mr. Gahres was my photography and Graphic design teacher during highschool. There were times where Mr. Gahres would make me so angry because he would look at a piece of my work and tell me it wasn't good enough mostly that I didn't give it a hundred percent and he was always right. He pushed me to challenge myself and find that thing inside myself the inspired my work. If it wasn't for him I would have never become a professional photographer, to this day I developed my own film and remember everything he taught me. Thank you for your many years of teaching and inspiration.

It has been years since I talked to Mr. Gahres, but I still talk of him from time to time. He was a great man and a great role model. He cared about his students and wasn't afraid to talk to them; not as a teacher but as a person. Even after I graduated high school, I reached out to him for help on a college project. He didn't hesitate to help and was genuinely interested to hear how I was doing. My condolences to all of his loved ones, he will be missed.

Coach was an Old School hard driver who just made you better at what you were doing and in life, all while making you laugh along the way.  Later in life, I was lucky enough to host him at Fort Indiantown Gap for a duty day, where we swapped military stories and fond memories of a skinny, wiseass kid from Texter Mountain Road and a not-so-skinny coach who both wandered down the same hill to play some tennis. RIP, Coach — peace and love be with your family. 

RIP, Tom... Remember him as a nice guy on the tennis team @ Millersville, and running into him years later at a football game at Mifflin, my alma mater, finding out he was teaching tech ed, the same subject my husband taught. My condolences to the family.

Dear Steph and family,
    We are so sorry for your loss.  You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Rest in Peace, Tom!  You will be missed by many. 
                           Love,
                           Charlotte & Joe



OBITUARY

Thomas R. Gahres

January 21, 1950 – January 18, 2019

Rohland Funeral Home Inc.

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