Thomas Michael Stockwell

Thomas Michael Stockwell, 64, passed away at home surrounded by family in Woodstock, Illinois on January 21, 2022. He is the beloved husband of Michelle (née Grajdura) of 40 years, the loving father of daughter Carolyn (Michael Zasada) Morris, sons Benjamin Stockwell and John (Fiancé Rebecca Lowe Mosena) Stockwell. He was the doting grandfather of four—Teddy, Leo, Charles, and Alexandra. He was the brother to Forrest (deceased), Christopher, Mark, Guy (deceased), Jane, Jill, Scott, Kelly, Mary Pat (deceased), and Jeremy Stockwell. He is the uncle to more than thirty nephews and nieces.

Tom was born in Syracuse, New York on November 23, 1957, to June (née Rossiter) and John Henry Stockwell. He spent much of his childhood in Hartington, Nebraska, and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, Illinois, where he met his wife, Michelle. Together, they moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1983, where he owned and operated TMS Photography for almost a decade. They later moved to Webster, South Dakota in 1997, where he worked as a Staff Photographer for Dakotah, Inc. and finished his MBA in Marketing. In 1999, the family moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a Marketing Director. In 2016, Tom and Michelle moved back to Illinois to be near his daughter and four grandchildren. Tom was a doer—a hard worker, and a devoted, ever-present figure in the lives of his wife and children. Full of life, he was always ready to laugh and have fun. He was a crisis-solver of all sorts, handy, kind, intelligent, and even-keeled. Considered “the baby whisperer”, he could soothe a crying child instantaneously. He was also an avid bicyclist, runner, and swimmer until he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-smoker’s lung cancer in early March 2020. His life verse was Jeremiah 29.11: “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Above all, Tom wanted to make a positive impact with his life—he loved God and had the “gift” of service. He was a member of Willow Creek Community Church Crystal Lake and enjoyed volunteering in the children’s ministry. He also had a passion for sailing and volunteered in a ministry called Carpe Ventis, now part of Chicago Voyagers, which offers adventure programming for at-risk youth, giving them a chance to discover themselves and grow into their potential. Memorial donations can be made in Tom’s honor to Chicago Voyagers.

A memorial gathering will be held at Saunders Funeral Home, 1745 S. Eastwood Drive, Woodstock, IL 60098 on Friday, January 28, from 6:30-8:30 PM and on Saturday, January 29, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, followed by a celebration of life from 12:00-1:00 PM. It is requested that all attendees wear a face mask. We look forward to celebrating Tom’s life with you in a safe manner.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.saundersfhc.com.

Call the funeral home for more info at 815-420-3030.

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