Dr. Thomas Martin Rouse

Thomas Rouse, 71, was born in Chicago, Illinois to Richard and Marianne Rouse. He graduated from Indiana University, followed by Indiana University School of Medicine in 1979. He completed a general surgical residency at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He was Associate Professor of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine and attending physician in the division of Pediatric Surgery at Riley Hospital for Children for 24 years. He served as director of Pediatric Trauma at Riley Hospital for Children for 15years. He retired in 2021.

He was a dedicated, compassionate surgeon, highly respected and well loved by his patients and the many staff with whom he worked. While his professional accomplishments were many, his greatest joy was his children and grandchildren. He spent any free time he had at his favorite place, his beloved house on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, with as many children and grandchildren as could come, preferably enjoying a cocktail as he rode around the lake in his pontoon boat at sunset. He will be missed and remembered dearly as the quintessential, “(almost always) calm” surgeon, an amazing husband, and his most treasured roles of “Dad and Grandpa”. 

Tom is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Norman Sears. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary, and their 4 children, Caroline (Carrie), Rouse, MD (Mike Ewing), Maura Altman, PsyD (John Michael Altman, sons Matthew and Jacob, step-son Vincent), Joanne Sommers (Partner at Plewes Shadley Racher & Braun Law) (Eric Sommers, daughters Claire and Anna) and Thomas (Tommy) Rouse, DDS (Ray Cantu). He is also survived by his siblings Richard Rouse, (Roni), Maribeth Sears, Kathy Incalcaterra (Jim) and Barbara Kujawa (Mike), along with many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to pay respects and visit at the Flanner Buchanan - Carmel, Thursday November 7 from 4pm-7pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, November 8 at 11:30 am at St. Luke Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN. 

To view the livestream of the service, please click here.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Riley Children’s Foundation (give.rileykids.org).