Thomas F. Mankowski

Thomas Francis Mankowski, 82, of Gaylord, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord. Dying of a broken heart and longing to be with his bride, Donna, he passed away just four days after his wife’s funeral.  They have reunited again, and their love and commitment to each other and the Lord continues as it was on Earth.

Born in Gaylord, Michigan on June 25, 1941, he was the son of Frank and Agnes (Borowiak) Mankowski. Tom grew up in Gaylord, Michigan where he later met his wife, married, and raised four daughters. 

On May 19, 1962, Thomas married the love of his life, Donna Maslowski. They recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. While raising his family, Tom worked as an equipment operator for Otsego County Road Commission and retired on January 1, 2000.

Tom was dedicated to his community and St. Mary Cathedral Church. He enjoyed coaching his daughters through the Little League softball program and St. Mary’s High School. In his spare time, he loved mowing his lawn, watching Sunday football, fishing, camping with family, snuggling those grandbabies, watching his little rascals on his skylight digital picture frame, but most of all spending time with his wife, daughters, son-in-law’s, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

Tom’s sense of humor brought a smile or a chuckle to anyone who was around. He loved to have company and large family gatherings where he was known to ask often, “What do you think this is, the Holiday Inn?”  The family knew he was joking and knew that was his excuse to pull out those late-night snacks while playing euchre into the morning hours.   

Tom is survived by his daughters, Tammie (Doug) Hughes, Jackie (Bill) McShosh, Cindy (Rusty) Huff and Kelly (Mike) Ford; grandchildren, Ryan (Karen) Hughes, Jena (Adam) Daning, Miranda (Jeff) James, Lucas (Kellie) McShosh, Kaitlin (Adam) Kroll, Blake (Leah) Huff, Madeline McShosh, Hannah (Nick) Leech, Brandon (Madison) Huff, Jacob Ford and Ty Ford; great-grandchildren, Ava, Keegan, Charlotte, Jamie, Harper, Kaden, Carson, Shay, Bryce, Miles, and Posie; sisters, Rose Wells, Louise Storey; sisters-in-law, Sherry Maslowski, Marlene Zylstra, Margaret Prusakiewicz, Wynonia Mankowski; brother-in-law, Richard Prusakiewicz and Frank Maslowski.  

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Mankowski; parents, Frank and Agnes Mankowski; in-laws, Frank and Martha Maslowski; sisters-in-law, Thelma Mankowski, June Mankowski, Dory Mankowski; and brothers-in-law, Theodore Mankowski, Robert Mankowski, Bo Mankowski, Gerald Mankowski, Richard Storey, Edward Zylstra and Richard Wells. 

Tom will always be loved from heaven above, and the family will continue to share their memories and carry on his traditions and sense of humor. The family will forever miss their father, grandfather, and great grandfather, also known as Papa. 

Until we meet again.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the St. Mary Cathedral where visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family which will go to specific organizations once the family decides. Please send to Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, In C/O: Cindy Huff, P.O. Box 249, Gaylord MI 49734.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his guestbook below.