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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It's not about the date of his birth, or the date he passed away...what mattered most is the dash between those years. For the dash represents all the time he spent on earth and only his family and friends know how much that dash is truly worth.
With great sorrow, our duct taping, gorilla gluing, jack of all trades husband and father, Tommy Lyne Holland (64), united with the Lord on October 31st, 2017 at the Ohio Veterans Home located in Sandusky, Ohio, following a lengthy illness.
He was born on October 12, 1953 in Burnsville, Mississippi to the late Elvie and Joe Della (Turberville) Holland.
At a very young age, he picked cotton in the fields like all the other great children of the south. His family moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan, the land of opportunity during a time when jobs were scarce. Upon graduating from Ypsilanti High School in 1971, Tommy proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he rose through the ranks and became a court stenographer and record typist.
After leaving the service, he attended The University of Michigan where he not only obtained his Bachelor's degree, but his deep dislike for The Ohio State University. He was employed at Ford Motor Company for 30 years in different positions in the States and also the Czech Republic and Mexico before retiring in 2007. In 2012 he moved to the Ohio Veterans Home where he was given excellent care and began to be referred to as the fire alarm pulling, coffee cup tapping, computer hijacking resident.
He was a member of the First Congregational UCC Church in Berlin Heights, Ohio. He was a charter member of the Pinckney, MI Lions Club. He served as the President of the Pinckney Aquatics Club and also the Sandusky YMCA Swim Team. He was also a member of the Sandusky Leads Organization and several other organizations. In his spare time, Tommy enjoyed home projects and remodeling. If asked what his greatest achievement in life was, his response would be his marriage and his children.
Tommy loved food almost as much as his family and always made sure that anyone who visited never went hungry. He was well known for his humorous personality, often playing pranks on several unlucky souls, including his son-in-law who he shocked on purpose while repairing a water fountain. As a giving soul, he loved construction and always had a project going on. He did not hesitate to knock something down a moment's notice; a great demolisher, contributing to multiple projects with his children as well.
He is survived by the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Jackie L. Caldwell, whom he married on December 15, 1973; daughter, Lindsay (Andrew) Aruskevicius of Berlin Heights; son, Shawn (Danielle) Holland of Livonia, MI; three grandchildren, Chase Aruskevicius, Liliana and Patrick Holland; his father-in-law, Hanford Caldwell; numerous nephews and other relatives.
In addition to his parents, Tommy is preceded in death by his brother, Jackie Wayne Holland; mother-in-law, Nancy Jane Caldwell and his brother-in-law, Kenneth William Caldwell.
Family and Friends may call on Saturday, November 4th from 11am until the time of the memorial service at 12pm, at Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave, Sandusky.
Those wishing to contribute in Tommy's memory may do so to Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870.
Condolences may be shared on line at www.grofffuneralhomes.com
