Thomas E. Downey

Thomas Edwin Downey, 85, of Fife Lake, passed peacefully at home on December 2, 2022 with family beside him. Tom was born on April 14, 1937 in Fife Lake to the late DeBlenna and Julia (Mills) Downey. Tom graduated from Fife Lake High School and worked at Wayne Wire Cloth Products in Kalkaska into the 1980s and then at Carpenter Enterprise in Traverse City until his retirement age. During those years Tom held other positions as well. Tom and Lucy opened the “Nibble Nook” a small restaurant in Fife Lake. He was also the town constable, the garbage collector, and a member of the Fife Lake Fire Department. In the wintertime, Tom would snowplow for the school, gas station, and anyone else that would ask him. Through the years Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, softball, playing cards, the casino, & the America Legion which he joined as a Son of a Son of a veteran. Tom married Lucy (VanderBrook) on June 7, 1956 with whom he had six children. Gary (Connie) Downey, Teresa (Eugene) Magee, Joe (Lynn) Downey, Yvonna Downey, John (Penny) Downey, Lisa (Keith) Fobes. He later remarried in 1998 to Melvina Rollo. He greatly enjoyed Mel and the company of her children, Sandy (Jerry) Weatherwax, Bobby (Susan) Rollo, Douglas (Patti) Rollo, Maurice Rollo, & Karie (Kip) Parker. Tom is survived by all his children and their spouses, as well as Mel’s children and their spouses with the exception of Sandy (Rollo) Weatherwax. Also surviving are his sisters Janet (Nobe) Tidey, Iva (Mel) Welch, and sister-in-law Sue (Dale) Downey, as well as 8 grandkids,14 great-grandkids, and many nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his grandson Cody Downey, his wife Melvina, and her daughter Sandy, his brother-in-law Mel Welch, brothers, Robert, Dennis & Dale, a sister Rita, and his parents. There will be a viewing at Kalkaska Funeral Home on Friday, December 9th at 11:00 am with a funeral service following at 12:00 pm. There will be a luncheon to follow at the Fife Lake American Legion. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Thomas E. Downey

April 14, 1937 - December 2, 2022