Thomas K Yetzer

Thomas Yetzer, age 90, died Sunday, November 1, 2020 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Born July 10, 1930 to Urban and Hattie Yetzer in Shelby he had been a 90 year resident of Walnut St. in Shelby. Tom was a 1949 graduate of Shelby High School and a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. 

Tom worked locally- initially at the Depot,then GAF (aka Business Forms) in the maintenance department and for the Shelby Park Commission after retirement-to support his family of 8 children. In addition to coaching his three sons in whatever sport they were involved in at the time, Tom also served as Little League President several times. He also supported his wife, Janet, with her volunteerism by providing the heavy lifting and set up for occasions such as the St. Mary’s Bingo kitchen, the many weddings and funeral dinners, etc. Tom served as an altar boy growing up and later as one of the first lay distributors at the Most Pure Heart of Mary Church. Tom served as Second Ward Councilman for several terms. He also spent his summer days for many years volunteering his time cutting the grass at the Shelby Helpline Ministries.

Family meant everything to Tom. In 65 years of marriage, he and Janet provided Sunday night dinners at their home for anyone who wanted to come. For many years, a backyard volleyball game took place in the summer months. Tom always loved children and loved when the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and neighborhood kids were around. Since 8 children weren’t enough,Tom and Janet also hosted 7 Foreign Exchange students.

To all who knew Tom, he was very entertaining with his jokes-some of them were even funny! He could always be counted on to stir the pot just to get a lively argument going.  Tom loved to be around people!

Tom was always creating things-such as revising a pot to retrieve hot items from the microwave or toaster oven; a clacker to scare the crows from the deck; a device to pick up golf balls when practicing in the backyard; the list is endless. He was very inventive.

He is survived by his daughters Carole Weidman of Linwood, NJ; Barb (Jeff) Harper of Willard; Betty-Liz Yetzer and Larry Kramer of Findlay; Judy (Mike) Caporini of Shelby; and Monica Thompson of Jamesburg, NJ; sons Chet (Jean) Yetzer of Shelby; Tom (Char) Yetzer of Shelby and Jerry (Judy) Yetzer of Wadsworth. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; one sister, Marge (Dick) Riley of Georgia; two brothers Robert Yetzer of Mansfield and Jim (Betty) Yetzer of Shelby; three sisters-in-law Kathe, Mary and Joan Yetzer.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Janet A. Yetzer; granddaughter Ashley Yetzer; two sisters, Patricia Reece and Mary Eileen Metzger, three  brothers, Charles, Harold and Richard Yetzer; son-in-law Danny Pugh; sisters-in-law Mary Houpt, Marlene Misamore and Sabina Rice and brother-in-law Darwin Stine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church , 29 W. St., Shelby, OH 44875.

Friends may call at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral mass will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Shelby. Father Chris Mileski will officiate with interment held in Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery.

It is requested that those visiting, please be brief, practice appropriate social distancing and wear a mask. Those who have been experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness, please feel free to pay respects via mail or online condolence.

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