Thomas Charles Waldorf

Thomas Charles Waldorf, age 73, a resident of Warren for over 34 years, died Sunday, December 1, 2019 surrounded by his loved ones at home. He was born May 21, 1946 in Detroit, son of the late Marcelle Robert and the late Helen Bernice (nee: Fremont) Waldorf.

A graduate of Harper Woods High School, Thomas made us all proud by stepping up to serve our country during the Vietnam War era. Unlike the many who were drafted, Thomas enlisted just shy of his 19th birthday in the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours of duty from March 1965 thru March 1969. Attaining the rank of Corporal, his major duty assignment was that of Tank Mechanic, and he also received a number of decorations for his service to include that as Expert Marksman.

So it is, with thanks and praise from a grateful nation, that we pay homage to Thomas’ service to our country and extend our posthumous gratitude for his pride and patriotism during a difficult time in America’s history. For the sacrifices made and his willingness to stand in harm’s way for freedom’s sake, we honor the call to duty he voluntarily accepted and served. Semper Fi.

Following his military service, Thomas’ return to hometown life would find him seeking to further his education by enrolling at Macomb Community College where he took a few courses before ultimately replacing that vision with a desire to begin earning a paycheck. He chose the field of carpet installation as his milieu, and was involved in both residential and commercial carpet laying throughout his 30 year career. He must have had some impressive knees to last that many years before retiring.

When he found time away from work, one of Thomas’ greatest passions was fishing for walleye on the Detroit River. Trolling up and down the river with visions of putting Mort Neff to shame, he often ran the gamut between lucky vs. lacking,…but he never had a bad day fishing, for sure. Being an outdoorsy kind of guy, another of his favorite things to do was go camping. Getting back to nature brought out the best in Thomas, and sharing a campfire with family and friends was often high on his list of cherished pastimes he enjoyed. He will also be remembered for being a bit of a macho dude, and this was never more evident than when he would hop aboard his prized Harley-Davidson and hit the open road. There was definitely a “machismo factor” that played into each time he lit up that precious hog and took her for a ride.

Many will also recall how much he treasured work. Though some may scratch their heads, even in retirement Thomas was constantly looking for things to keep him busy. Whether it was something to do for himself or his own household, or a way he could help others where a need arose, Thomas was a ball of energy that needed to be doing something 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. And if he wasn’t working, he was cuttin’ up and looking to bring others along for the ride. Known for being the consummate prankster and practical joker, you always needed to be on your guard. Possessing a broad sense of humor and a vivid imagination, pulling off his pranks and clowning around came far too easy for this wise guy. Yet, it was simply about keeping things light in a heavy world,…and Thomas was a Comedic King.

Yet of all he treasured the most, nothing could hold a candle to the love and care he held for those most precious in life, his children and grandchildren. They were the light of his life and provided him with countless hours of fun, entertainment, and a host of very special memories. Each moment spent in their company was the stuff of dreams, and together they created memories to last a lifetime. He leaves a legacy of love for all to draw upon who were blessed to know him, and he will truly be missed immensely.   

Thomas was the beloved husband of Lani. Dearest father of Thomas, Benjamin, Dawn Marceau, Eddie Marceau, and Nick (Johanna) Marceau. Loving grandfather of Alexis (Nick) Munck, Paige, Isabella, Abigail, Trysten, Hanna, and great-grandfather of Ophelia and Mirabelle. Brother of Alan (Kim), Charles (Donna), Renee (Jim) Weidner, Duane (Lisa), Alice (Bob) Dickerson, Kenny (Barbara), Steve (Terri), Roger, Mark (Terri), Doris (Jack), Carol (Geoff) Gerling, Kathy (Keith) Wygal, Elaine (Ron) Schilling, and preceded in death by siblings Eddie, Jimmy, and Philip.

A Memorial Visitation for Thomas will be held Saturday, December 7th from 2-8 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road) in Warren.

His Memorial Service will take place on Saturday evening at 7:00 pm, immediately followed by the rendering of military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Memorial donations are welcomed to the family of Thomas Waldorf.

Please share memories of Thomas at his guest book below.