Thomas E. “Tom” Tragesser

Thomas Edward “Tom” Tragesser, 76, Tipton died at 5:18 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2012 at his residence. He was born February 15, 1936 in Tipton to Aloysius and Christine (Funke) Tragesser. On November 9, 1957 he married Nancy Smith and she survives.

Tom was a tool & die maker and the owner of Swift Tool & Die, having opened the business in 1963. He named it after his first aircraft, the Swift. He had also worked at Chrysler Corporation from 1984-2001 and was a farmer.

He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Tom graduated from Tipton High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Air Reserve from 1953 – 61.

Survivors besides his wife Nancy include four children, Doug Tragesser and wife Darlene, Atlanta, Indiana, Gloria Schroeder and husband Tim, Tipton, Tamara Emswiller and husband David, Middletown and Carrie Dickey and husband Brad, Tipton; 10 brothers and sisters, Rita Parr, Georgia, Bob Tragesser and Deanne, Tipton, Jim Tragesser and wife Betty, Tennessee, Connie Mumford, Kokomo, Henni Schulenburg and husband Elwyn “Schuley”, Wyoming, Fran Mozzone and husband Mike, Ft. Wayne, Becky Soupley, Kokomo, Donna Tidler and husband Dean, Colorado, John Tragesser and wife Linda, Tipton, and Ted Tragesser and wife Linda, Illinois.

Tom is also survived by nine grandchildren, Briana Carter and husband Bryan, Tabitha Gremel and husband Shane, Carly Sharber and husband Josh, Kilah Dickey, Greg Dickey, Cameron Tragesser, Braden Schroeder, Damon Dickey and Kalyn Dickey; seven great-grandchildren, Hannah Leigh Schroeder Henry, Peyton Carter, Eli Carter, Addison Gremel, Sofia Carter, Kurt Gremel and Reagan Sharber.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Herb Tragesser, a grandson, Billie Schroeder and an infant grandson.

Tom’s funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 22 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Rev. Leroy Kinnaman presiding. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home with a Wake Service at 7:00 p.m. followed by the reciting of the rosary.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurse Service of Kokomo, 2800 South Reed Road, Kokomo, Indiana, 46902, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 340 Mill Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or the American Cancer Society, 2723 S. Albright Road, Kokomo, Indiana, 46902.