Thomas James Karafa

Karafa, Mr.
Thomas James
Muskegon, Michigan
Thomas J. Karafa, 77, of Muskegon, entered eternal rest and the peace of Jesus Christ on Saturday, November 4, 2023. He was born in Muskegon, MI on March 27, 1946 to Joseph & Dorothy (White) Karafa and proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy and his community as a volunteer firefighter with Dalton Township Fire Department for many years and worked for over 30 years at RENK (formerly Teledyne Continental Motors) as a Mechanical Engineer.
Tom enjoyed two tracking when younger. Does anyone else remember him and his family hiking out of the woods with cloth diapers covering their heads, or picking Tom up from another two tracking trip and finding his Bronco "roof on the ground and wheels in the air"? He was able to take apart any engine, computer, or machine, (maybe not his tractor though) fix what was wrong, and put it back together, only better. His favorite way to spend spare time was out in his barn, fiddling with any engine paying special attention to his tractor.
SURVIVORS
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, sister, Janet Larson, sisters in law, Evelyn Herbert and Bonnie Karafa, children, Stephanie Walker (Karen), Melanie Young, TJ Karafa, and Joshua Karafa (Kristan), grandchildren, Afton, April, Skylar (Brock), Private Braden Karafa, Kate, Kaden, and Madelyn, great-grandchildren, Lainey, Keelyn, Kambrie, and Hadlee, and many nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Dorothy (White), sisters, Nancy Bailey and Cathy Curtis, brothers, Timothy Karafa and William Karafa, nieces Sharon and Amanda Karafa, blended son Justin Kroupa and blended daughter Tonya Kroupa.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
A memorial service will take place on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 4:00 pm, with the family receiving visitors beginning at 3:00 pm at Clock Funeral Home, 1469 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441. A light reception will follow. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.
Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon