Walter "Tom" Thomas Fitzsimons

W. Thomas Fitzsimons, age, 91 of Torch Lake Village, Michigan, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan surrounded by his family.  He was born on November 8^th 1931 at Detroit Women’s Hospital to Walter and Lillian Fitzsimons.

Tom was raised in the shadow of Detroit’s famous Fisher Building on Pallister Avenue and attended St. Agnes Catholic School in Detroit. For High School, Tom boarded at Assumption College School in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

After High School, Tom honorably fought and served our country in the US Army during the Korean War from Feb.1952-Dec. 53. After his basic training, he was selected to attend NCO school at Camp Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

After his honorable discharge from active duty in Korea, Tom attended Wayne State University in Detroit and then began a long and successful career at Nabisco Foods as a Sales Representative from 1954-1988.

It was at Nabisco that Tom met the love of his life, Jean (Sierpien), who worked in the same Detroit office.  Tom and Jean were wed at Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Hamtramck, Michigan on June 22^nd, 1957 and raised 3 sons, together.

Tom and Jean bought their first home in Ferndale (near his childhood best friend, Ray Burelle and his wife Patricia). They were parishioners at St James and made many more lifelong friends while living there.

Tom and Jean built a home in White Lake Township after he was transferred by Nabisco to develop a territory in northern Oakland and southern Genesee County, and lived there until his retirement.

Tom had always proudly said that his hobby was his family. He absolutely loved taking his children each year to the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit, followed by an annual hot cocoa party hosted by close family friends, the Beaupieds, in Ferndale.

Tom’s happiest times in his life were always spent on beautiful Torch Lake, where his mother, Lilian, purchased a summer lakefront cottage in 1936. To this day, it remains a center point of many happy gatherings with both family and friends.

After Tom’s retirement, he and Jean permanently relocated to a year-round home adjacent to his summer cottage in Torch Lake Village where he took up the game of Golf.  Tom became a Ranger at A-ga-Ming golf resort over the next 15 years and, upon his retirement, was granted a lifetime membership for his service.

Tom had 2 hole-in-ones…his second just days before his 86^th birthday. Tom had become the oldest active golfer at A-ga-Ming, where that community had become a second family to him.

Tom always said it was an honor to be caregiver for his wife Jean during her courageous 16 year battle with cancer. After her battle ended, Tom took his 3 boys to Ireland for an unforgettable golf trip and to explore their Irish heritage together.

Tom is survived by his three sons and two daughter-in-laws, Kevin (Christine Robertshaw), Patrick, and Tim (Tricia Magante).

In addition, Tom was blessed with 5 grandchildren: twins Kate and Morgan, and grandsons Sean, Nicolas and Connor, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife Jean (Sierpien); his parents, Walter and Lillian (Nelson); as well as brother, Bill and sister Joan Gordon.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 19^th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Elk Rapids, with a Vigil for the Deceased at 6pm. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 20^th with Rev. Robert J. Zuchowski presiding.  Interment with Military Honors will take place in Lakeview Cemetery, Torch Lake Township.  

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church for the Building Fund, 143 Charles St., Elk Rapids, MI 49629 or the American Diabetes Association, PO BOX 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116

Arrangements have been handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.