THOMAS GARTH DYGERT I

Thomas Garth Dygert I, 71 of Harrison, passed away Friday, December 25, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Thomas was born February 4, 1949 to James and Ida Dygert. Tom has 9 brothers and sisters.  Tom was 8^th of the 10.  Tom has 4 living siblings, Carole, Gayle, Robert and Cynthia.   Preceding him in death are his parents and his brothers James, Kenneth and Donald and his sisters Sharon and Diane.  Tom is also preceded in death by two of his children Thomas II and Ronny Joe. Tom also has 2 brothers in law, Don and Greg (Gayle), 4 sisters in law, Cheryl, Paula, Donalda (Bob), Sheila (Doug)  

Tom loved hunting, fishing, Fast pitch softball, bowling (of which Tom bowled 2 perfect games of 300) and Tom loved The Detroit Tigers, Redwings and the Lions.  Tom had 4 TV’s set up in the garage where he watched a different sport on each television.   He was joined in the garage by many of his friends.  I would walk out there and he would have a small party going on.   

Tom married Carol in 1988, along with his daughter Kelley and his two step children James and Shannon.  Tom has 2 grandchildren Krista and Aaron, 3 step grandchildren Mason, Claire and Callie.   

One time at a very fancy restaurant Tom cut of the tie of one of the men there and from then on it became a joke of wearing ties.  Every get together Tom wore a different tie and it was always cut off, including a tin tie.  So when he and Carol got married the minister went on and on and on and on, when we turned around everyone in the audience was wearing a tie.  Very funny, that was Toms welcome into the family. 

Tom and my mother, his mother in law Marlene had a thing going where they smashed a pie in the others face, I for one am glad it was just him and her.   

One time I bought a gas grill and had it bungee strapped on the back of the car, when Tom tried to take it off one of the bungies snapped through the air and went up his nose, blood everywhere.  So, then it became a joke to get Tom bungies. 

Tom was diagnosed with Pic’s disease which is a rare form of Alzheimer’s, Tom was diagnosed in 2012, and still does and says funny things to crack me up.  Tom’s homecare woman Kathy is his love, and she loves him. There are days when Tom does not speak to me but does to her, he cracks her up.   

Tom was baptized when he was younger and also did it again in 2014 with his Carol.  I went into the bathroom to go because no one wants to pee in the baptismal, when I came out Tom was nose to nose with a man I did not know, Tom said to me “do you know who this is” to which I said “no”, Tom said it was Willie Mays, I said it’s nice to meet you, Tom started crying he said he could not believe that Pastor Kevin brought Willie Mays to watch him be baptized.  Really I had no idea who this was and the guy didn’t say anything, they just stood nose to nose of each other.  Tom and I went into the baptismal together and I helped to dip Tom and then it was my turn.  He didn’t want to get out.  Then that other guy had his turn and he was definitely Autistic.  I mean that guy never said a word, it was funny.   

The first time I went to a family get together he tried to warn me that there would be a lot of people; you know with 10 kids, I said are you kidding my mother’s family had 13.  10 kids, nah that didn’t bother me at all.  The Dygert family each have told me how happy they are with how I love Tom and how I take care of him.  I love them all.  Since Tom’s diagnosis, 4 of his sibling have passed away, I know he will be so surprised when he gets to heaven and they are all there to meet him.  In return my family embraced Tom and loved him.   

Life Celebration services for Mr. Dygert will be held at a later date for family and friends. To share an online memory or condolence with Tom’s family, please visit: www.stockingfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for Mr. Dygert are entrusted with Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison (989)539-7810.