D. Thomas Goble (Tom) 82 passed away peacefully at his home in the early hours of April 6, 2020. Tom was born to Donald and Mary Ellen Goble of Somerset, Ohio on March 26, 1938. Growing up as an only child, he and his cousin Marilyn were as close as brother and sister. Moving to Columbus, Ohio he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School from 1952 to 1956, where Tom excelled in both Football and Basketball earning multiple honors all the while making lifelong friends. Being an all-boys school, the sister school was St. Mary of the Springs where he met the love of his life Mary Ellen Smith. Venturing off to the College of William & Mary on a football scholarship he realized his life was with Mary Ellen in Columbus and they wed in 1958. Tom went from being an only child to immediately being a big brother to Mary Ellen's five younger sisters and brothers and he embraced it like he embraced everything in his life. He loved each of them as if they were his own blood as well as their eventual husband, wives and children and the feeling was mutual. Tom and Mary Ellen were blessed with the first of three boys, Thomas Patrick in 1960, then Christopher John in 1966 and finally Dennis Michael in 1971.
Over the years Tom's career with A.B.Dick moved them from Columbus to South Bend to Columbus to Rockford to Washington D.C. to Rockford once again. His career afforded him the luxury of making great friends throughout the United States who would become like family, especially John and Ceil Pruitt. Settling in Rockford, they became members of Holy Family Parish, they re-established and quickly met and made wonderful friendships with an incredible group of people. The traditions this group started included New Year’s Eve’s at the Kelly’s where John Brady would reveal his best-friend for the upcoming year, Kentucky Derby Parties at O'Leary's, July 4th Celebrations at the Close’s, the Menke Masters, the Football Pool and of course the famous Turkey Bowl’s at the Goble house. This group knew how to have a good time and Tom always enjoyed it to the fullest. Tom had a good balance of family, friends and faith, to know Tom was to know was to know a good person with a strong relationship with God. Tom was there for his son’s in helping coach their sports teams over the years, being there for them with wisdom from his life experience and setting the example of how to be a good man, which has never stopped. Tom was very proud of his son’s, the lives they have lived, the accomplishments they have achieved and the men they have become.
In 1983, he left the corporate world and with Mary Ellen opened A.B.Dick Products Co. of Rockford, which is now in INTEGRA Business Systems. Over the years many good people came through the doors, where he was affectionately called “The Big Guy” and it became an extended family as can happen with small businesses. In 92 a young lady named Candi Billman started and endeared herself to them and became like the daughter Tom and Mary Ellen never had, which continues to this day.
When Tom wasn't playing golf on the weekends with the foursome of Paul Kelly, Bill Menke and John Brady you could find him watching his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturdays and the Chicago Bears on Sundays during the fall and on special occasions he’d make his famous Coney Dogs, if you were lucky. Tom was part of a core group of men including Casey Brauns, Mike Youngs and Paul Kelly who enjoyed going to Las Vegas, they would often bring some of their other friends along, like Henry Close and Jim Erickson, for the good times and fellowship, always making sure to include a day of culture on their trips.
When Mary Ellen passed away in 1998, it was his family and friends, along with his relationship with God that helped him cope with the grief and work towards a fulfilling future. Then in 2002, he embraced a new chance for happiness when he married Collette Kelly and found a new love and partner for the rest of his life. The marriage to Collette brought with it an increase to his family again with her son's Rodney, Michael and daughter Colleen, whom Tom has built a great relationship with over the years and lest we forget the special relationship he had with Bogey (a very smart dog). If it wasn't for Collette and her love for Tom these past 18 years, his health battles may have had a different outcome and we would have never had him in our lives for as long as we have. Tom and Collette made the most of their years together traveling both through the United States and Internationally, spending time with family and friends, and being there for one another. During this time, they became Papa Tom and Grandma Collette to two special children Ramona and Sam Lawrence. They also continued the groups tradition that began at the Atrium by going out on Friday nights, now with Vince McGuire and other friends.
In 2019, Tom began his most epic fight with cancer, being a 12-year survivor, he knew it would be tough. He never gave up, he never stopped fighting and he never lost the will to live. However, with his spirit and soul ready to leave this earth and reunite with his loved ones who went before, he joined Mary Ellen in heaven on April 6, 2020.
Tom may have started his journey on this earth as part of small family but he concluded his time here on earth as a larger than life member of a big and loving family who will love and miss him forever. Until we meet again, we will embrace life like he did.
A private funeral mass will be held and a Celebration of Tom’s Life will occur in the future, as well as a burial in Columbus, Ohio. The family would like to thank the good people at Northern Illinois Hospice who helped provide care and comfort to Tom during his last weeks. In lieu of flowers the family would like to direct donations to Northern Illinois Hospice in Tom Goble’s name.
Tom is survived by his wife Collette, sons Tom (Anne), Chris (Carol), and Dennis. Collette’s children Colleen, Michael (Kirstie), and Rodney. Brothers and sisters Patty and Tom Benadum, Dennis and Carol Smith, Barbara and Mike Betts, Kaye Smith, Julie and Garth Garlock, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and Chris’ stepchildren Erin, Alexis, and Alex all of whom he loved very dearly. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Ellen, his parents Donald and Mary Ellen Goble, in-laws Pat and Mary Smith, cousin Marilyn Schuster, brother John Smith and great-nephew Johnny Randall.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial in Ohio
Over the years Tom's career with A.B.Dick moved them from Columbus to South Bend to Columbus to Rockford to Washington D.C. to Rockford once again. His career afforded him the luxury of making great friends throughout the United States who would become like family, especially John and Ceil Pruitt. Settling in Rockford, they became members of Holy Family Parish, they re-established and quickly met and made wonderful friendships with an incredible group of people. The traditions this group started included New Year’s Eve’s at the Kelly’s where John Brady would reveal his best-friend for the upcoming year, Kentucky Derby Parties at O'Leary's, July 4th Celebrations at the Close’s, the Menke Masters, the Football Pool and of course the famous Turkey Bowl’s at the Goble house. This group knew how to have a good time and Tom always enjoyed it to the fullest. Tom had a good balance of family, friends and faith, to know Tom was to know was to know a good person with a strong relationship with God. Tom was there for his son’s in helping coach their sports teams over the years, being there for them with wisdom from his life experience and setting the example of how to be a good man, which has never stopped. Tom was very proud of his son’s, the lives they have lived, the accomplishments they have achieved and the men they have become.
In 1983, he left the corporate world and with Mary Ellen opened A.B.Dick Products Co. of Rockford, which is now in INTEGRA Business Systems. Over the years many good people came through the doors, where he was affectionately called “The Big Guy” and it became an extended family as can happen with small businesses. In 92 a young lady named Candi Billman started and endeared herself to them and became like the daughter Tom and Mary Ellen never had, which continues to this day.
When Tom wasn't playing golf on the weekends with the foursome of Paul Kelly, Bill Menke and John Brady you could find him watching his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturdays and the Chicago Bears on Sundays during the fall and on special occasions he’d make his famous Coney Dogs, if you were lucky. Tom was part of a core group of men including Casey Brauns, Mike Youngs and Paul Kelly who enjoyed going to Las Vegas, they would often bring some of their other friends along, like Henry Close and Jim Erickson, for the good times and fellowship, always making sure to include a day of culture on their trips.
When Mary Ellen passed away in 1998, it was his family and friends, along with his relationship with God that helped him cope with the grief and work towards a fulfilling future. Then in 2002, he embraced a new chance for happiness when he married Collette Kelly and found a new love and partner for the rest of his life. The marriage to Collette brought with it an increase to his family again with her son's Rodney, Michael and daughter Colleen, whom Tom has built a great relationship with over the years and lest we forget the special relationship he had with Bogey (a very smart dog). If it wasn't for Collette and her love for Tom these past 18 years, his health battles may have had a different outcome and we would have never had him in our lives for as long as we have. Tom and Collette made the most of their years together traveling both through the United States and Internationally, spending time with family and friends, and being there for one another. During this time, they became Papa Tom and Grandma Collette to two special children Ramona and Sam Lawrence. They also continued the groups tradition that began at the Atrium by going out on Friday nights, now with Vince McGuire and other friends.
In 2019, Tom began his most epic fight with cancer, being a 12-year survivor, he knew it would be tough. He never gave up, he never stopped fighting and he never lost the will to live. However, with his spirit and soul ready to leave this earth and reunite with his loved ones who went before, he joined Mary Ellen in heaven on April 6, 2020.
Tom may have started his journey on this earth as part of small family but he concluded his time here on earth as a larger than life member of a big and loving family who will love and miss him forever. Until we meet again, we will embrace life like he did.
A private funeral mass will be held and a Celebration of Tom’s Life will occur in the future, as well as a burial in Columbus, Ohio. The family would like to thank the good people at Northern Illinois Hospice who helped provide care and comfort to Tom during his last weeks. In lieu of flowers the family would like to direct donations to Northern Illinois Hospice in Tom Goble’s name.
Tom is survived by his wife Collette, sons Tom (Anne), Chris (Carol), and Dennis. Collette’s children Colleen, Michael (Kirstie), and Rodney. Brothers and sisters Patty and Tom Benadum, Dennis and Carol Smith, Barbara and Mike Betts, Kaye Smith, Julie and Garth Garlock, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and Chris’ stepchildren Erin, Alexis, and Alex all of whom he loved very dearly. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Ellen, his parents Donald and Mary Ellen Goble, in-laws Pat and Mary Smith, cousin Marilyn Schuster, brother John Smith and great-nephew Johnny Randall.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial in Ohio
D. Thomas Goble (Tom) 82 passed away peacefully at his home in the early hours of April 6, 2020. Tom was born to Donald and Mary Ellen Goble of Somerset, Ohio on March 26, 1938. Growing up as an only child, he and his cousin Marilyn were as close as brother and sister. Moving to Columbus, Ohio he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School from 1952 to 1956, where Tom excelled in both Football and Basketball earning multiple honors all the while making lifelong friends. Being an all-boys school, the sister school was St. Mary of the Springs where he met the love of his life Mary Ellen Smith. Venturing off to the College of William & Mary on a football scholarship he realized his life was with Mary Ellen in Columbus and they wed in 1958. Tom went from being an only child to immediately being a big brother to Mary Ellen's five younger sisters and brothers and he embraced it like he embraced everything in his life. He loved each of them as if they were his own blood as well as their eventual husband, wives and children and the feeling was mutual. Tom and Mary Ellen were blessed with the first of three boys, Thomas Patrick in 1960, then Christopher John in 1966 and finally Dennis Michael in 1971.
Over the years Tom's career with A.B.Dick moved them from Columbus to South Bend to Columbus to Rockford to Washington D.C. to Rockford once again. His career afforded him the luxury of making great friends throughout the United States who would become like family, especially John and Ceil Pruitt. Settling in Rockford, they became members of Holy Family Parish, they re-established and quickly met and made wonderful friendships with an incredible group of people. The traditions this group started included New Year’s Eve’s at the Kelly’s where John Brady would reveal his best-friend for the upcoming year, Kentucky Derby Parties at O'Leary's, July 4th Celebrations at the Close’s, the Menke Masters, the Football Pool and of course the famous Turkey Bowl’s at the Goble house. This group knew how to have a good time and Tom always enjoyed it to the fullest. Tom had a good balance of family, friends and faith, to know Tom was to know was to know a good person with a strong relationship with God. Tom was there for his son’s in helping coach their sports teams over the years, being there for them with wisdom from his life experience and setting the example of how to be a good man, which has never stopped. Tom was very proud of his son’s, the lives they have lived, the accomplishments they have achieved and the men they have become.
In 1983, he left the corporate world and with Mary Ellen opened A.B.Dick Products Co. of Rockford, which is now in INTEGRA Business Systems. Over the years many good people came through the doors, where he was affectionately called “The Big Guy” and it became an extended family as can happen with small businesses. In 92 a young lady named Candi Billman started and endeared herself to them and became like the daughter Tom and Mary Ellen never had, which continues to this day.
When Tom wasn't playing golf on the weekends with the foursome of Paul Kelly, Bill Menke and John Brady you could find him watching his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturdays and the Chicago Bears on Sundays during the fall and on special occasions he’d make his famous Coney Dogs, if you were lucky. Tom was part of a core group of men including Casey Brauns, Mike Youngs and Paul Kelly who enjoyed going to Las Vegas, they would often bring some of their other friends along, like Henry Close and Jim Erickson, for the good times and fellowship, always making sure to include a day of culture on their trips.
When Mary Ellen passed away in 1998, it was his family and friends, along with his relationship with God that helped him cope with the grief and work towards a fulfilling future. Then in 2002, he embraced a new chance for happiness when he married Collette Kelly and found a new love and partner for the rest of his life. The marriage to Collette brought with it an increase to his family again with her son's Rodney, Michael and daughter Colleen, whom Tom has built a great relationship with over the years and lest we forget the special relationship he had with Bogey (a very smart dog). If it wasn't for Collette and her love for Tom these past 18 years, his health battles may have had a different outcome and we would have never had him in our lives for as long as we have. Tom and Collette made the most of their years together traveling both through the United States and Internationally, spending time with family and friends, and being there for one another. During this time, they became Papa Tom and Grandma Collette to two special children Ramona and Sam Lawrence. They also continued the groups tradition that began at the Atrium by going out on Friday nights, now with Vince McGuire and other friends.
In 2019, Tom began his most epic fight with cancer, being a 12-year survivor, he knew it would be tough. He never gave up, he never stopped fighting and he never lost the will to live. However, with his spirit and soul ready to leave this earth and reunite with his loved ones who went before, he joined Mary Ellen in heaven on April 6, 2020.
Tom may have started his journey on this earth as part of small family but he concluded his time here on earth as a larger than life member of a big and loving family who will love and miss him forever. Until we meet again, we will embrace life like he did.
A private funeral mass will be held and a Celebration of Tom’s Life will occur in the future, as well as a burial in Columbus, Ohio. The family would like to thank the good people at Northern Illinois Hospice who helped provide care and comfort to Tom during his last weeks. In lieu of flowers the family would like to direct donations to Northern Illinois Hospice in Tom Goble’s name.
Tom is survived by his wife Collette, sons Tom (Anne), Chris (Carol), and Dennis. Collette’s children Colleen, Michael (Kirstie), and Rodney. Brothers and sisters Patty and Tom Benadum, Dennis and Carol Smith, Barbara and Mike Betts, Kaye Smith, Julie and Garth Garlock, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and Chris’ stepchildren Erin, Alexis, and Alex all of whom he loved very dearly. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Ellen, his parents Donald and Mary Ellen Goble, in-laws Pat and Mary Smith, cousin Marilyn Schuster, brother John Smith and great-nephew Johnny Randall.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial in Ohio
Over the years Tom's career with A.B.Dick moved them from Columbus to South Bend to Columbus to Rockford to Washington D.C. to Rockford once again. His career afforded him the luxury of making great friends throughout the United States who would become like family, especially John and Ceil Pruitt. Settling in Rockford, they became members of Holy Family Parish, they re-established and quickly met and made wonderful friendships with an incredible group of people. The traditions this group started included New Year’s Eve’s at the Kelly’s where John Brady would reveal his best-friend for the upcoming year, Kentucky Derby Parties at O'Leary's, July 4th Celebrations at the Close’s, the Menke Masters, the Football Pool and of course the famous Turkey Bowl’s at the Goble house. This group knew how to have a good time and Tom always enjoyed it to the fullest. Tom had a good balance of family, friends and faith, to know Tom was to know was to know a good person with a strong relationship with God. Tom was there for his son’s in helping coach their sports teams over the years, being there for them with wisdom from his life experience and setting the example of how to be a good man, which has never stopped. Tom was very proud of his son’s, the lives they have lived, the accomplishments they have achieved and the men they have become.
In 1983, he left the corporate world and with Mary Ellen opened A.B.Dick Products Co. of Rockford, which is now in INTEGRA Business Systems. Over the years many good people came through the doors, where he was affectionately called “The Big Guy” and it became an extended family as can happen with small businesses. In 92 a young lady named Candi Billman started and endeared herself to them and became like the daughter Tom and Mary Ellen never had, which continues to this day.
When Tom wasn't playing golf on the weekends with the foursome of Paul Kelly, Bill Menke and John Brady you could find him watching his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturdays and the Chicago Bears on Sundays during the fall and on special occasions he’d make his famous Coney Dogs, if you were lucky. Tom was part of a core group of men including Casey Brauns, Mike Youngs and Paul Kelly who enjoyed going to Las Vegas, they would often bring some of their other friends along, like Henry Close and Jim Erickson, for the good times and fellowship, always making sure to include a day of culture on their trips.
When Mary Ellen passed away in 1998, it was his family and friends, along with his relationship with God that helped him cope with the grief and work towards a fulfilling future. Then in 2002, he embraced a new chance for happiness when he married Collette Kelly and found a new love and partner for the rest of his life. The marriage to Collette brought with it an increase to his family again with her son's Rodney, Michael and daughter Colleen, whom Tom has built a great relationship with over the years and lest we forget the special relationship he had with Bogey (a very smart dog). If it wasn't for Collette and her love for Tom these past 18 years, his health battles may have had a different outcome and we would have never had him in our lives for as long as we have. Tom and Collette made the most of their years together traveling both through the United States and Internationally, spending time with family and friends, and being there for one another. During this time, they became Papa Tom and Grandma Collette to two special children Ramona and Sam Lawrence. They also continued the groups tradition that began at the Atrium by going out on Friday nights, now with Vince McGuire and other friends.
In 2019, Tom began his most epic fight with cancer, being a 12-year survivor, he knew it would be tough. He never gave up, he never stopped fighting and he never lost the will to live. However, with his spirit and soul ready to leave this earth and reunite with his loved ones who went before, he joined Mary Ellen in heaven on April 6, 2020.
Tom may have started his journey on this earth as part of small family but he concluded his time here on earth as a larger than life member of a big and loving family who will love and miss him forever. Until we meet again, we will embrace life like he did.
A private funeral mass will be held and a Celebration of Tom’s Life will occur in the future, as well as a burial in Columbus, Ohio. The family would like to thank the good people at Northern Illinois Hospice who helped provide care and comfort to Tom during his last weeks. In lieu of flowers the family would like to direct donations to Northern Illinois Hospice in Tom Goble’s name.
Tom is survived by his wife Collette, sons Tom (Anne), Chris (Carol), and Dennis. Collette’s children Colleen, Michael (Kirstie), and Rodney. Brothers and sisters Patty and Tom Benadum, Dennis and Carol Smith, Barbara and Mike Betts, Kaye Smith, Julie and Garth Garlock, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and Chris’ stepchildren Erin, Alexis, and Alex all of whom he loved very dearly. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Ellen, his parents Donald and Mary Ellen Goble, in-laws Pat and Mary Smith, cousin Marilyn Schuster, brother John Smith and great-nephew Johnny Randall.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial in Ohio
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
