Thomas Clyde Rhoads, 79, of Rochester, passed away at 8:52 PM on Saturday, February 28, 2026, peacefully at home.
Born on October 11, 1946, in Ashland, Ohio, to John A. and Mary Jane Bryan Rhoads, Tom grew up alongside two sisters and four brothers. He proudly graduated from Ashland High School with the Class of 1964, went on to earn an A.A. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and answered the call of service with the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge in 1968.
On July 12, 1986, Tom married Linda Kay Sickmiller in Ashland, Ohio. Together they shared 35 years of life's adventures, until her passing on January 15, 2021.
Tom lived by a simple creed: work hard, play harder. He spent many years as a foreman at Rochester Metal Products, where his strong work ethic and steady hand earned him lasting respect. But it was outside of work where Tom truly came alive. An award-winning competitive trapshooter, he brought the same drive to every pursuit — and what set him apart was that his greatest competition was always himself; he simply loved getting better. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and a round of golf, but the sport that held his heart never changed. In his later years, he added the poker table to his arena, spending countless hours matching wits with family and friends, right up until the end.
Left to cherish Tom's memory are his seven children: Jeff Talsma (Michele) of the Upper Peninsula, MI; Chad Spangler (Misty) of Cape Coral, FL; Shawn Spangler of Crestline, OH; Jennifer Fisher (Tommy) of Toano, VA; Stephanie Berry of Albuquerque, NM; Nancy Rhoads of Richmond, VA; and Jessica Rhoamond (Chris) of Staunton, VA. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren — Jordan, Marisa, Dylan, Jerzee, Caden, Bella, Anthony, Cameron, Evan, Caulen, Braden, Norah, Lucas, Kylee, and Arbor — great-grandson Jaxon; six siblings, John Rhoads (Verda) of Ohio, Shaaron Kohl of Florida, Denny Rhoads (Lisa) of Muncie, Dan Rhoads (Sharon) of North Carolina, Karen Umberger of North Carolina, and Tim Rhoads (Lynn) of Ohio; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Linda.
A celebration of the life of Thomas Clyde Rhoads will begin at 10:00 AM EST on May 16, 2026, at The Fulton County Conservation Club, 3916 N Meridian Rd, Rochester, IN 46975. Tom will be honored at 10:00 AM with the Missing Man Squadron Shoot by his fellow sportsmen, followed at 10:45 AM by military honors conveyed by the Fulton County Veteran's Honor Guard and the United States Army Honors Team. A time of remembrance and storytelling will follow.
Online expressions of sympathy may be shared with his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.
