Thomas R. Fahlstrom

Thomas R. Fahlstrom, 100, of Gaylord, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Crawford Continuing Care Center in Grayling, Michigan.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 26, 1923, he was the son of Axel Henning and Blanche Louise (Olinger) Fahlstrom.  The family moved to Otsego County, during the great depression, in 1930.  At age 17 he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps from May 1941 through July 1942, and in August of 1942 he enlisted in the US Navy.  

On November 14, 1944, he married Vera Mae Crawford in Napoleon, Ohio.  Early in their marriage they lived in New Orleans, but they were longtime residents of Gaylord.  They had 70 loving years together.

Tom began working for Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1944 where he was paint shop and maintenance shop supervisor, and also served as a conservation officer during deer season.  He retired after 40 years in 1984.    He spent nearly 50 years working winter weekends at the ski repair shop at Hidden Valley, and also painted signs for several area businesses, organizations and individuals.

He kept busy with volunteer work through RSVP, running the OCCOA bingo program for 25 years, and volunteering with a nature program in the Vanderbilt area planting trees and making bluebird houses.

In his spare time, he was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He hunted deer, turkey, bear, and he especially enjoyed duck hunting.  Tom was also an accomplished woodcarver and woodworker, carving ducks and building furniture.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Mae, on November 8, 2014, and his brothers, Oscar and Leonard.  Surviving are his children, Karen (Tom) Harriger of Gaylord, Daryl (Judy) Fahlstrom of Jackson, Thomas Fahlstrom of Ypsilanti, and Karl (Sandy) Fahlstrom of Sun Prairie, WI; 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Tom’s family will visit with friends Friday, October 13, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Gaylord First United Methodist Church, with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM.  Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to Gaylord First United Methodist Church or to the Otsego County Commission on Aging.

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