Thomas A. Kane

Thomas A. Kane, age 88, died peacefully on November 16, 2012 at South Lemay Avenue Health & Rehab Center. Tom was born on September 22, 1924 to Joseph and Bertha Kane in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He had one older sister, Bernadette. He spoke of fun times growing up in this neighborhood where he attended PS 181 and played a lot of stickball. One year his team was given uniforms with "Sioux" written on them, which he and his teammates pronounced "sigh-ox" and they all wondered what it meant……! Tom's family later moved to Bronxville, New York where he attended high school. Like many boys of his age during WWII, he enlisted in the army after graduating from high school. He trained with the 10th Mountain Division here in Colorado. However, following a series of mishaps he ended up being deployed to the South Pacific instead of going to Europe. He was wounded in New Guinea and returned to New York with a Purple Heart. After attending the University of Wisconsin, Tom married his first wife, Mary Ellen Schutzendorf, in 1948 and they had two daughters, Hilary and Christina. They were married for 24 years residing for a long time in New England until relocating to Colorado in 1970. Tom demonstrated love and compassion for his daughters by spending time with them and through his caring, easy-going manner. He spent most of his career as a sales person in the building materials industry. In 1975 Tom married Joan Smith Johnson and became stepfather to Karen Johnson Daly and Scott Johnson. Tom and Joan initially lived in Longmont and moved to Fort Collins in 1979. They were always busy with Gourmet Club Tom loved to cook, the Northern Colorado Jazz Club, the Front Range Forum an educational program through the Senior Center and Kiwanis Club. Tom loved to make people smile and was always ready with a joke. He will be remembered for his kind, relaxed manner. Tom is survived by his loving and close friend, Shirley Hovey; his children, Hilary Kane Appleby of Bakersfield California, Christie Kane Maurais of Boulder, Karen Johnson Daly of Boulder, and Scott Johnson of Beaumont, California; and grandchildren, Breana Maurais, Daniel Maurais, Nerissa O'Donnell, Mason Daly and Kitt Daly. A memorial gathering will be held for Tom on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Bohlender Funeral Chapel at 121 W. Olive St. in Fort Collins. Interment will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery at a later date.

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Thomas A. Kane

September 22, 1924 - November 16, 2012