Thomas L. Shellberg

Thomas Lawrence Shellberg, a resident of Birmingham, passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the age of 88. A son of Francis and Margaret Shellberg, he was born on September 11, 1937 in Jackson, Michigan. Tom exchanged vows with Marylou Griesman in 1960 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Tom spent decades as a beloved biology professor at Henry Ford Community College. He developed an evolution and behavior course that quickly became very popular and still exists, at a time when he had to fight to offer such a course. He will be remembered fondly by thousands of students, some of whom became friends. He would talk passionately about evolution and behavior to anyone who would listen and frequently presented on the topic, even into his 80's.
Tom was loving, trusting, warm and generous. He made friends easily and was extremely social. He was a wonderful brother, father-in-law, father and grandfather. He thought his four grandchildren were all extremely smart, unusually attractive, and all around exemplary. He told them so regularly. Tom was a good husband to Marylou for 62 years; she had a lot of patience.
Tom had a good sense of humor. He told family many times about practical jokes played as a young man in Jackson. His apartment was full of original limericks written on scraps of paper. He spent the last years of his life eating gourmet meals prepared by someone else, and playing contract bridge several times a week. He lived a very full, long, happy life. He was ready to go at the end.
Loving father of Laura (Jeff) Webb and Leslie Shellberg. Cherished grandfather of Jenna (Brandon) Prater, Jacob Thurlow, Tyler Shellberg, and Kara Shellberg. Treasured great-grandfather of two. Dear brother of Michael (Lori) Shellberg. Thomas was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marylou, and children, Eric and Jeffrey Shellberg.
Donations can be made to two organizations he supported - Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741 and World Central Kitchen, Attn: Donor Services Team, P.O. Box 96538, Washington, DC 20090.
Please share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com