Thomas E. "Tom" Bohde

Thomas Edward “Tom” Bohde, age 79, of Columbia City, IN, passed away unexpectedly on Friday July 7, 2023, along with his four-legged companion, Glen, as the result of an automobile accident.  Born on June 23, 1944, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Richard and Tharon (Gatchell) Bohde.

Tom attended Central High School, Fort Wayne and graduated with the Class of 1962. He then attended apprenticeship school at General Electric.  Tom first worked in tool & die and then later worked in aircraft programming. His work as an aerospace contractor moved him all over the country. Washington, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Missouri. He even spent a short period working in Italy. Tom was extremely proud of his work on classified military planes in his career, specifically the stealth fighter while living in Texas working for Lockheed Martin.

He was extremely passionate about airplanes. He had a few personal planes over the course of his life, a Grumman Tiger and a Cessna. He loved to take family and friends up into the sky.  He also lived to fish. You couldn't possibly name every body of water that Tom fished from. All of his children were partially raised on a dock or boat. That was his favorite way to spend spare time. From Maumee river, the oceans, and back to Loon Lake, fishing was everything. Tom also had a giant heart for animals, big and small, but especially his dog Glen.

Nothing in life was more important to Tom than his family. He lived for his children. He made many sacrifices over the course of his life just to be sure his children had everything that he never had. He succeeded in every way raising them. Tom's greatest legacy is left in the heart of his children. There couldn't have been a better father in their lives.

Survivors include is children Tracy (Kimberly) Bohde and Dale Bohde, both of Barlow, KY and Katie (Dennis Brady) Bohde of Churubusco; grandchildren Dustin Bohde, Victoria Scott, Reese Bohde, Sara White, Samantha Moon, Kimber Kendrick; great-grandchildren Madison Bohde, Miley Bohde, Freya Scott, Davina Scott, Daxton Scott, Stevie Moon, and Bohde White; siblings Richard (Linda) Bohde II, Timothy Bohde, and Michelle Dickerson; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jay Bohde, brothers Jim Bohde, Kevin Bohde, Randy Bohde, and Jerry Bohde, nephews Kyle Bohde and Paul Bohde, and his beloved Glen.

Funeral services for Tom will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday July 18, 2023, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, with calling from 3:00-6:00 pm prior to service.

Memorial contributions in memory of Tom may be made to the Loon Lake Association in Columbia City. Memorial contributions in Memory of Glen may be made to Wags & Wiggles Rescue in Fort Wayne.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or to sign the online guest register.