Thomas J. Need Sr

On August 21, 2024, Thomas J. Need, Sr. passed away peacefully with family by his side. He was 97 years old. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. In his retirement years, Thomas split his residences between Petoskey, Michigan and Palm Bay, Florida.

Born on April 2, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan to Mary (Mollie) Need (nee. Emblen) and Thomas Percy Need he was the second of three boys. He grew up in Detroit with brothers William and Robert. Graduating from Edwin Denby High School, he continued his education at Wayne State University and the Chrysler Institute of Engineering.

Thomas served in the US Army during the Korean War from 1950 – 1952 stationed in Berlin, Germany. Assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion, Thomas became an award-winning photographer. His meticulous attention to detail led Thomas to a 42-year engineering career culminating as Manager Interior and Exterior Business Group Specialist for the Chrysler Corporation. He specialized in tooling, design, and process operations. After his first retirement from Chrysler, he was contracted to take part in a task force providing launch support for Chrysler in Milan, Italy on a joint project with Maserati for national distribution. Upon returning to the states, Thomas was hired as an Account Manager for Guardian Manufacturing providing the automotive industry with systems used for adhesively applied ornamentation. Thomas also worked in the Chrysler Missile Division Special Projects 1958-1959 Redstone and Jupiter Design.

Thomas met his future wife, Patricia Emily Helwig at Chrysler as she was working as an Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Planning. They married on October 10, 1953. Together they raised three children: Thomas, Charles, and Patricia settling in the Detroit suburb of Mt. Clemens where they lived until 1987. During these years Thomas and Pat were involved in the Eastsider’s Club in Detroit. He was also a member of Amvets of Mt. Clemens.

His retirement years were spent playing golf as a member of Bay View Golf Club and participation in the Crooked Lake Yacht Club. In May of 1993 Thomas became a member of golf’s elite ‘Hole in One’ club on hole number 8 at Pine Hill Golf Course in Alanson, Michigan. His other hobbies included photography, golfing, home renovation, gardening, fishing, brewing beer (root beer for the kids) and grilling. 

Thomas is survived by his wife of nearly 71 years, Patricia Emily; his eldest son Thomas Jr (Mary); daughter Patricia Ann (Bradley); two grandchildren - Andrew Need (Gabrielle) and Jordan Need; and his brother Robert as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Mary; in-laws Charles and Minnie Mary Helwig; his son Charles Michael Need; brother William (June); in laws Elizabeth; Dorothy (Eugene) Cleary; Beatrice (Raymond) Lindeman; Germaine (Raymond) Kuptz; Charlotte (Mario) Calcaterra; Robert (Nita) Helwig; Muriel J Helwig; Jacqueline (Edward) Smith; and Maureen (John) Morgan.

A private family funeral will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Petoskey. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a charitable donation in Thomas’s memory are asked to consider McLaren Hospice, 1 Highland Drive, Petoskey, MI 49770.

Known for his waxed handlebar mustache and love of cats and dogs, Thomas was a kind gentle soul with a warm and polite demeanor. Quick with a joke or a humorous detailed story, his absolute favorite pastime was a good meal with friends and family. He will be remembered by all that met him. 

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his guestbook below.