Groff Funeral Homes
1607 East Perkins Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-626-3632
Fax: 419-626-2445
Email: info@grofffuneralhomes.com
Website: http://www.grofffuneralhomes.com
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John Thomas Pascoe, child of God, son, brother, Eagle Scout, husband, Mason, father, grandfather, fisherman, sailor, friend and neighbor was born March 18, 1944 in Sandusky, OH. He died peacefully Thursday morning, August 31, 2017 at Stein Hospice Care center after fighting a 5 month battle with cancer.
He was the "baby and the 3rd son" of Milton Charles "Milt" and Marie Sophie (Maunus) Pascoe.
Tom was a 1962 graduate of Sandusky High School and received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Otterbein College in 1967, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. After college, he returned to Sandusky, to work with his brother, Charles M. Pascoe, in the family's insurance business, Pascoe Agency, Inc., which his grandfather, Gilbert V. Pascoe, had begun in the late 1880's. Followed by his father, Milt, his uncle, John, and brother, Charles, Tom took his place as vice president and the 3rd generation of Pascoe men in the family business.
He married his first wife, Amy Christensen and from their union a daughter, Laura Marie Pascoe was born in 1969. They divorced in 1970. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves, serving from 1963-1969. He volunteered with the Perkins Township Fire Department under Chief Harmon Bruens from 1967 to 1980. He married his second wife, Patty (Dahm) Royal on December 23, 1972. Jokingly he would tell everyone that they got a package deal; him, a son, Chad Royal and Patty's stereo; her, a dog and a house!
Tom was a practicing member of Zion Lutheran Church, the home church for the Pascoe family.
Tom received his Charted Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation of insurance in 1974. Over the years, he held membership in various civic and community organizations; Sandusky Jaycees, Sandusky Sailing Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Huron Yacht Club, American Legion Post No. 83, a life time member of the AmVets Post 17, Orioles Nest 279, life time member of the National Rifle Association of America, a life time member of Sandusky Area Maritime Museum and he was a 50 year member of the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Old Perseverance Lodge No. 329 in 2016.
He was a graduate of the Sandusky Police Academy in 1980. Tom was a part time Deputy for Sheriffs Gladwell and Magnuson and, Put in Bay Police Department under Chief Thomas Ohlemacher.
In 1984, he earned a US Coast Guard Captains' License for the Great Lakes and Western Rivers. The license was upgraded to 100 Ton in 1989 and placed in Document of Continuity in 2013.
For 25 years, (1991-2016) with governor appointments, he served on the Waterways Safety Council for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a member and for 19 of those years as chairman. He served under 4 governors and 6 directors. He was very protective of "Lake Erie," Ohio's greatest natural resource!
From 2000 to 2008 he was Perkins Township Trustee. Tom also served on the Perkins Zoning Commission, and Perkins Zoning Board of Appeals. He along with Bob Kowalk and Jerry Baumgardner initiated a comprehensive development plan for Perkins Township. Tom also served on the Metropolitan Planning Commission and Erie County Jail Advisory Committee with Sheriff Magnuson.
From April 2008 - May 2014 he was appointed to the Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC) having been appointed by the Secretary, Michael Chertoff, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to represent recreational boating on the Great Lakes.
After his retirement from Pascoe Agency, Inc., in August 1997, he worked some summers at Cedar Point as a gate keeper and a van driver; as a commercial bait fisherman and as an international courier traveling to Mexico, Seoul, South Korea, Zurich, Trinidad, Tobago and Prague delivering small auto parts; gaskets, seals, labels and computer chips that the "big brown trucks couldn't deliver fast enough."
He learned to run the family Lyman before he learned to drive a car. Sailing was his passion. He crewed for Bob Seltzer aboard Querida, Carl Schwensfire aboard Yellow Jacket, A.Wm McGraw aboard Cutting Edge and John Root aboard Fine Feather all over the Great Lakes and in SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Circuit).
A fisherman who always shared his catch with family, friends and neighbors be it spring/summer or his favorite "ice fishing" in the winter!
Tom and Patty loved traveling by cruise ships, ferry boats and by car to 40 of the 50 states in the USA. They enjoyed hiking in state and national parks, watching sunrises and sunsets over Lake Erie, canoeing along Ohio streams and rivers. Time with children and grandchildren was/is precious to them as well as enjoying their participation in their numerous activities and performances.
The family wishes to thank Dr. James Preston and the Staff of Stein Hospice; Cleveland Clinic Cancer Centre here in Sandusky, especially Dr. Phillip Engler, Dr. Timothy Adamowicz and their staff; physicians and staff at the Firelands Regional Medical Center, Tom's primary care physician, Dr. Reagan Bristol and his staff for the care, compassion and expertise that they showed on this cancer journey with Tom.
He leaves to celebrate his life, his wife of 44 years, Patty; son, Chad Royal-Pasco of New York, NY and Miami, FL and his partner, Robert Posner; daughter and son-in-law, Laura (Dr. Greg) Wiggins of Kalamazoo, MI; 3 grandchildren, Ashley, Heather and Zachary Wiggins of Kalamazoo, MI; brother, Charles M. (Pearl) Pascoe; sister-in-law, Connie Schmitz of Jacksonville, FL and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his grandson, Nathan C. Wiggins in 2004, 3 years of age; brother, James E. Pasco; paternal grandparents, G. Vergn and Julia (Scheid) Pascoe and his maternal grandparents, Jacob E. Jr and Sanna (Minni) Maunus.
At Tom's request, there will be no visitation and cremation will take place. His remains will be placed in a biodegradable vessel in the waters of Lake Erie.
A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 1:30 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 503 Columbus Ave., with Rev. Dr. Eric Bodenstab officiating. Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
Remembrances may be made to Perkins Township Fire Department, 2610 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, OH 44870, Sandusky Junior Sailors, c/o Sandusky Sailing Club, PO Box 814, Sandusky, OH 44870, Sandusky Area Maritime Association, 125 Meigs St., Sandusky, OH 44870, Zion Lutheran Church, 503 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, OH 44870, Sandusky Library & Follet House Foundation, 114 W. Adams St., Sandusky, OH 44870 or to one's favorite charity.
Condolences may be shared online at www.grofffuneralhomes.com
