Thomas R. Loshaw

Thomas R. Loshaw, 59 of Vanderbilt was called home on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

Born on August 29, 1959 in Gaylord, Tom was the son of Richard and Eleanor (Paquin) Loshaw.  A lifelong Vanderbilt resident, he was a 1977 graduate of Vanderbilt High School.

As a young man he worked helping his father at his business, Loshaw Standard in Vanderbilt.  After graduating from high school Tom moved for a short time to Texas where he worked in the oilfields.  After returning home he worked for Leo Singleton Sheet Metal and Robinson Construction.

In 1990 Tom and his brother, John, became business partners at Loshaw Crane in Gaylord.  Tom has been the sole owner since 2003.  In 2012 Tom and his family started the Jimmy Johns franchise in Gaylord.  Both Loshaw Crane and Jimmy Johns are family businesses that Tom enjoyed operating with his wife and three children.

Throughout his life Tom has been an avid sports fan and outdoorsman.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman, especially enjoying the friends he made on his annual trips to Blue Lake in Canada.  He was an accomplished golfer and a past club champion at Springbrook Golf Club at Walloon Lake.  He was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Lions, Tigers and Redwings as well as the University of Michigan.  An avid snowmobiler, Tom was an owner of a sled that raced in the MIRA circuit which included the I-500 at Sault Ste. Marie.  When his kids were younger, Tom was active in area little league as a coach.  He was also a member of the National Rifle Association.

Tom never knew a stranger and he was always there to lend a helping hand.  He was active in the Vanderbilt community as a former Vanderbilt School Board member and president.  Currently he was a member of the Corwith Township Board of Trustees and he was instrumental in the new pavilion building project.  Tom was also a member of Vanderbilt Community Church.

Most of all though, Tom was a family man who was loved and cherished by his family; his wife, Brenda (Brink) whom he married in Gaylord on January 23, 1984; his children, Justin (Michelle) Loshaw of Gaylord; Kylie (Scott) Roznowski of Waters and Tyler (Mariah) Loshaw of Gaylord; his grandchildren; Blake, Brody, Jaylyn and Raylan, who simply knew him as “Pa”; his mother Eleanor (Larry) Bennett of Vanderbilt; his sister Kim (Douglas) Robinson of Gaylord; his brother, John (Debra) Loshaw of Vanderbilt; his brother-in-law, Dave (Fran) Brink of Gaylord; several nieces and nephews and his dog, Duke.  Tom was preceded in death by his father, Richard Loshaw in 1988; his mother and father-in-law, Curtis and Kathleen Brink and brothers-in-law, Scott and Roger Brink.

A memorial service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at 12:00 noon Monday, June 17, 2019 at Vanderbilt Community Church with Pastor John Bifoss officiating.  A luncheon will follow the service.  Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com