Thomas Ray Stierwalt (Tom) made his last and final gesture on August 2, 2022, signing off on a life, in his words, "well-lived with few regrets" after a 7-year battle with lung cancer. Tom was born to the late Minor John and Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielson) on June 18, 1943 in Indianapolis, IN.
Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Culross Road in Gosport, where Tom learned to play basketball (his passion), hunt, fish, farm, and tend to the livestock. At one point in his childhood, he and Randy Gates, curiously came across orphaned baby racoons which they nursed back to maturity. Needless to say, Marion and Minor were apprehensive about this endeavor but Tom was successful and favored these unconventional pets the most.
Tom enjoyed living in the country on the family farm, which naturally led him to participate in other related activities like 4-H and the FFA. His competitive spirit enticed him to athletics, where he lettered in basketball and track during his high-school years. During this time, Tom also became acquainted with Carol "Joan" Brown, and somehow convinced her he was a capable suitor. To this day, we'll never know how exactly this happened, but Tom married his high-school sweetheart on June 18th, 1966. The couple partnered for 56 years, raised 3 children, countless dogs, cats, rabbits, and a myriad of other pets their children brought home from the county fair.
Tom was a student of life, illustrated by his tenue at and his alma-matter, Purdue University, where he earned his 3 degrees over 12 years. He was awarded a BS in Agriculture in 1966, a MS in Botany & Plant Pathology in 1969, and a Doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 1973. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity, a member of the Army ROTC program, and served as a captain in the US Army reserves.
Following Purdue, Tom and his family moved back to the Gosport where he and his father managed livestock and a grain farm for 6 years. Tom then started his long and illustrious career as a Field Research Scientist at Mobile Chemical in 1979. Tom stayed with organization through multiple acquisitions including Rhone-Poulenc, Aventis, and Bayer, where he ultimately retired in 2005. Throughout this time, he managed the research and development of numerous experimental fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides and mentored countless internes during the summer months. His work took him around the world to South Africa, France, Puerto Rico and many of the lower 48 states. Following his retirement, he continued to follow his passion in science by starting Clear Ponds LLC where he managed the growth and control of aquatic plants for many clients in their respective lakes and retention ponds.
Tom was an avid reader, skier, gardener, and fisherman. You could find him fishing on the family pond, salmon fishing on the Great Lakes and Alaska, or fly fishing in numerous rivers in the US. His free time was devoted to both coaching and watching his children and grandchildren in a variety of sports and other extra-curricular activities. You could regularly hear him debating a referee, teaching his children the Fosbury Flop, or coaching his grandchildren in anything related to basketball, but his favorite pastime was being a bit of a prankster.
You see, Tom enjoyed pulling stunts on the uninitiated. In his earlier years, he may drive off the road at night without notice, into a sinkhole and shut off the lights. While safe, the blood would drain to your feet and you'd become lightheaded. He enjoyed this reaction immensely. Another favorite, Snipe hunting. Tom reveled hearing the naïve, running aimlessly through the woods at night, clanking pots and pans, chasing the elusive creatures with burlap bags, only to their disappointment. While he always enjoyed a good laugh, he certainly had other passions of a more serious nature.
His service to his friends, family, and community was interlaced with his day-to-day activities. He served on multiple boards at the YMCA, the Ellettsville Christian Church and the Gosport Christian Church. He also donated his time to the Lions Club and his fraternity (AGR), where he chaired the Ron Hurt Memorial Fund.
Tom was preceded in death by his Brother John Stierwalt, d.1942, Mother, Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielsen), d. 2007, Father, Minor John Stierwalt, d. 2011, and Sister Rita Stierwalt, d. 2020.
He is survived by his Wife, Carol Joan Stierwalt (Brown), Daughter, Lisa Taylor (John Taylor) of Charlotte, NC, Erika Utterback (Eric Utterback) of Greenwood, IN, Son, Jeremy Stierwalt (Ann Stierwalt) of Daniel Island, SC, Grandchildren, Hannah Taylor, Kaelen Taylor, Allison Utterback, Emma Utterback, Elli Utterback, Bryson Stierwalt, and Beckett Stierwalt.
Visitation will be held at the Gosport Christian Church, 117 W Main St, Gosport, IN 47433 at 11am, followed by funeral services at 3pm on August 6th, 2022.
Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Culross Road in Gosport, where Tom learned to play basketball (his passion), hunt, fish, farm, and tend to the livestock. At one point in his childhood, he and Randy Gates, curiously came across orphaned baby racoons which they nursed back to maturity. Needless to say, Marion and Minor were apprehensive about this endeavor but Tom was successful and favored these unconventional pets the most.
Tom enjoyed living in the country on the family farm, which naturally led him to participate in other related activities like 4-H and the FFA. His competitive spirit enticed him to athletics, where he lettered in basketball and track during his high-school years. During this time, Tom also became acquainted with Carol "Joan" Brown, and somehow convinced her he was a capable suitor. To this day, we'll never know how exactly this happened, but Tom married his high-school sweetheart on June 18th, 1966. The couple partnered for 56 years, raised 3 children, countless dogs, cats, rabbits, and a myriad of other pets their children brought home from the county fair.
Tom was a student of life, illustrated by his tenue at and his alma-matter, Purdue University, where he earned his 3 degrees over 12 years. He was awarded a BS in Agriculture in 1966, a MS in Botany & Plant Pathology in 1969, and a Doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 1973. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity, a member of the Army ROTC program, and served as a captain in the US Army reserves.
Following Purdue, Tom and his family moved back to the Gosport where he and his father managed livestock and a grain farm for 6 years. Tom then started his long and illustrious career as a Field Research Scientist at Mobile Chemical in 1979. Tom stayed with organization through multiple acquisitions including Rhone-Poulenc, Aventis, and Bayer, where he ultimately retired in 2005. Throughout this time, he managed the research and development of numerous experimental fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides and mentored countless internes during the summer months. His work took him around the world to South Africa, France, Puerto Rico and many of the lower 48 states. Following his retirement, he continued to follow his passion in science by starting Clear Ponds LLC where he managed the growth and control of aquatic plants for many clients in their respective lakes and retention ponds.
Tom was an avid reader, skier, gardener, and fisherman. You could find him fishing on the family pond, salmon fishing on the Great Lakes and Alaska, or fly fishing in numerous rivers in the US. His free time was devoted to both coaching and watching his children and grandchildren in a variety of sports and other extra-curricular activities. You could regularly hear him debating a referee, teaching his children the Fosbury Flop, or coaching his grandchildren in anything related to basketball, but his favorite pastime was being a bit of a prankster.
You see, Tom enjoyed pulling stunts on the uninitiated. In his earlier years, he may drive off the road at night without notice, into a sinkhole and shut off the lights. While safe, the blood would drain to your feet and you'd become lightheaded. He enjoyed this reaction immensely. Another favorite, Snipe hunting. Tom reveled hearing the naïve, running aimlessly through the woods at night, clanking pots and pans, chasing the elusive creatures with burlap bags, only to their disappointment. While he always enjoyed a good laugh, he certainly had other passions of a more serious nature.
His service to his friends, family, and community was interlaced with his day-to-day activities. He served on multiple boards at the YMCA, the Ellettsville Christian Church and the Gosport Christian Church. He also donated his time to the Lions Club and his fraternity (AGR), where he chaired the Ron Hurt Memorial Fund.
Tom was preceded in death by his Brother John Stierwalt, d.1942, Mother, Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielsen), d. 2007, Father, Minor John Stierwalt, d. 2011, and Sister Rita Stierwalt, d. 2020.
He is survived by his Wife, Carol Joan Stierwalt (Brown), Daughter, Lisa Taylor (John Taylor) of Charlotte, NC, Erika Utterback (Eric Utterback) of Greenwood, IN, Son, Jeremy Stierwalt (Ann Stierwalt) of Daniel Island, SC, Grandchildren, Hannah Taylor, Kaelen Taylor, Allison Utterback, Emma Utterback, Elli Utterback, Bryson Stierwalt, and Beckett Stierwalt.
Visitation will be held at the Gosport Christian Church, 117 W Main St, Gosport, IN 47433 at 11am, followed by funeral services at 3pm on August 6th, 2022.
Thomas Ray Stierwalt (Tom) made his last and final gesture on August 2, 2022, signing off on a life, in his words, "well-lived with few regrets" after a 7-year battle with lung cancer. Tom was born to the late Minor John and Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielson) on June 18, 1943 in Indianapolis, IN.
Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Culross Road in Gosport, where Tom learned to play basketball (his passion), hunt, fish, farm, and tend to the livestock. At one point in his childhood, he and Randy Gates, curiously came across orphaned baby racoons which they nursed back to maturity. Needless to say, Marion and Minor were apprehensive about this endeavor but Tom was successful and favored these unconventional pets the most.
Tom enjoyed living in the country on the family farm, which naturally led him to participate in other related activities like 4-H and the FFA. His competitive spirit enticed him to athletics, where he lettered in basketball and track during his high-school years. During this time, Tom also became acquainted with Carol "Joan" Brown, and somehow convinced her he was a capable suitor. To this day, we'll never know how exactly this happened, but Tom married his high-school sweetheart on June 18th, 1966. The couple partnered for 56 years, raised 3 children, countless dogs, cats, rabbits, and a myriad of other pets their children brought home from the county fair.
Tom was a student of life, illustrated by his tenue at and his alma-matter, Purdue University, where he earned his 3 degrees over 12 years. He was awarded a BS in Agriculture in 1966, a MS in Botany & Plant Pathology in 1969, and a Doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 1973. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity, a member of the Army ROTC program, and served as a captain in the US Army reserves.
Following Purdue, Tom and his family moved back to the Gosport where he and his father managed livestock and a grain farm for 6 years. Tom then started his long and illustrious career as a Field Research Scientist at Mobile Chemical in 1979. Tom stayed with organization through multiple acquisitions including Rhone-Poulenc, Aventis, and Bayer, where he ultimately retired in 2005. Throughout this time, he managed the research and development of numerous experimental fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides and mentored countless internes during the summer months. His work took him around the world to South Africa, France, Puerto Rico and many of the lower 48 states. Following his retirement, he continued to follow his passion in science by starting Clear Ponds LLC where he managed the growth and control of aquatic plants for many clients in their respective lakes and retention ponds.
Tom was an avid reader, skier, gardener, and fisherman. You could find him fishing on the family pond, salmon fishing on the Great Lakes and Alaska, or fly fishing in numerous rivers in the US. His free time was devoted to both coaching and watching his children and grandchildren in a variety of sports and other extra-curricular activities. You could regularly hear him debating a referee, teaching his children the Fosbury Flop, or coaching his grandchildren in anything related to basketball, but his favorite pastime was being a bit of a prankster.
You see, Tom enjoyed pulling stunts on the uninitiated. In his earlier years, he may drive off the road at night without notice, into a sinkhole and shut off the lights. While safe, the blood would drain to your feet and you'd become lightheaded. He enjoyed this reaction immensely. Another favorite, Snipe hunting. Tom reveled hearing the naïve, running aimlessly through the woods at night, clanking pots and pans, chasing the elusive creatures with burlap bags, only to their disappointment. While he always enjoyed a good laugh, he certainly had other passions of a more serious nature.
His service to his friends, family, and community was interlaced with his day-to-day activities. He served on multiple boards at the YMCA, the Ellettsville Christian Church and the Gosport Christian Church. He also donated his time to the Lions Club and his fraternity (AGR), where he chaired the Ron Hurt Memorial Fund.
Tom was preceded in death by his Brother John Stierwalt, d.1942, Mother, Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielsen), d. 2007, Father, Minor John Stierwalt, d. 2011, and Sister Rita Stierwalt, d. 2020.
He is survived by his Wife, Carol Joan Stierwalt (Brown), Daughter, Lisa Taylor (John Taylor) of Charlotte, NC, Erika Utterback (Eric Utterback) of Greenwood, IN, Son, Jeremy Stierwalt (Ann Stierwalt) of Daniel Island, SC, Grandchildren, Hannah Taylor, Kaelen Taylor, Allison Utterback, Emma Utterback, Elli Utterback, Bryson Stierwalt, and Beckett Stierwalt.
Visitation will be held at the Gosport Christian Church, 117 W Main St, Gosport, IN 47433 at 11am, followed by funeral services at 3pm on August 6th, 2022.
Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Culross Road in Gosport, where Tom learned to play basketball (his passion), hunt, fish, farm, and tend to the livestock. At one point in his childhood, he and Randy Gates, curiously came across orphaned baby racoons which they nursed back to maturity. Needless to say, Marion and Minor were apprehensive about this endeavor but Tom was successful and favored these unconventional pets the most.
Tom enjoyed living in the country on the family farm, which naturally led him to participate in other related activities like 4-H and the FFA. His competitive spirit enticed him to athletics, where he lettered in basketball and track during his high-school years. During this time, Tom also became acquainted with Carol "Joan" Brown, and somehow convinced her he was a capable suitor. To this day, we'll never know how exactly this happened, but Tom married his high-school sweetheart on June 18th, 1966. The couple partnered for 56 years, raised 3 children, countless dogs, cats, rabbits, and a myriad of other pets their children brought home from the county fair.
Tom was a student of life, illustrated by his tenue at and his alma-matter, Purdue University, where he earned his 3 degrees over 12 years. He was awarded a BS in Agriculture in 1966, a MS in Botany & Plant Pathology in 1969, and a Doctorate in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 1973. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity, a member of the Army ROTC program, and served as a captain in the US Army reserves.
Following Purdue, Tom and his family moved back to the Gosport where he and his father managed livestock and a grain farm for 6 years. Tom then started his long and illustrious career as a Field Research Scientist at Mobile Chemical in 1979. Tom stayed with organization through multiple acquisitions including Rhone-Poulenc, Aventis, and Bayer, where he ultimately retired in 2005. Throughout this time, he managed the research and development of numerous experimental fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides and mentored countless internes during the summer months. His work took him around the world to South Africa, France, Puerto Rico and many of the lower 48 states. Following his retirement, he continued to follow his passion in science by starting Clear Ponds LLC where he managed the growth and control of aquatic plants for many clients in their respective lakes and retention ponds.
Tom was an avid reader, skier, gardener, and fisherman. You could find him fishing on the family pond, salmon fishing on the Great Lakes and Alaska, or fly fishing in numerous rivers in the US. His free time was devoted to both coaching and watching his children and grandchildren in a variety of sports and other extra-curricular activities. You could regularly hear him debating a referee, teaching his children the Fosbury Flop, or coaching his grandchildren in anything related to basketball, but his favorite pastime was being a bit of a prankster.
You see, Tom enjoyed pulling stunts on the uninitiated. In his earlier years, he may drive off the road at night without notice, into a sinkhole and shut off the lights. While safe, the blood would drain to your feet and you'd become lightheaded. He enjoyed this reaction immensely. Another favorite, Snipe hunting. Tom reveled hearing the naïve, running aimlessly through the woods at night, clanking pots and pans, chasing the elusive creatures with burlap bags, only to their disappointment. While he always enjoyed a good laugh, he certainly had other passions of a more serious nature.
His service to his friends, family, and community was interlaced with his day-to-day activities. He served on multiple boards at the YMCA, the Ellettsville Christian Church and the Gosport Christian Church. He also donated his time to the Lions Club and his fraternity (AGR), where he chaired the Ron Hurt Memorial Fund.
Tom was preceded in death by his Brother John Stierwalt, d.1942, Mother, Marion Forrest Stierwalt (Nielsen), d. 2007, Father, Minor John Stierwalt, d. 2011, and Sister Rita Stierwalt, d. 2020.
He is survived by his Wife, Carol Joan Stierwalt (Brown), Daughter, Lisa Taylor (John Taylor) of Charlotte, NC, Erika Utterback (Eric Utterback) of Greenwood, IN, Son, Jeremy Stierwalt (Ann Stierwalt) of Daniel Island, SC, Grandchildren, Hannah Taylor, Kaelen Taylor, Allison Utterback, Emma Utterback, Elli Utterback, Bryson Stierwalt, and Beckett Stierwalt.
Visitation will be held at the Gosport Christian Church, 117 W Main St, Gosport, IN 47433 at 11am, followed by funeral services at 3pm on August 6th, 2022.
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