Thomas H. Seikel

Thomas H. “Tom” Seikel, 88, of Rose Lane Health Center, Massillon, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, in Aultman Hospital Canton. Tom resided for many years, and, along with his wife, reared a family, in a home that he built at 510 E. Fifteenth St., Dover.

Born January 25, 1918, in Dover, Tom was a retired carpenter who worked all of his life in Dover and New Philadelphia. He was proud of his vocation, and often pointed out to family and friends the many structures he had worked on throughout the area. Tom served his country honorably during World War II in Alaska, and later in Okinawa, Japan, as an engineer in the U.S. Army. He was the recipient of two bronze stars.

He was a member of St. Joseph Church, Dover. He loved the outdoors, which included hunting rabbit and raising beagles. Tom had a green-thumb, and nearly always had a garden. Additionally, he was a beekeeper, or apiarist. In later years, when he was unable to spend much time outside, he liked to read about and study wildlife.

Survivors include two daughters, Patricia (Larry) Van Camp of Canton, and Janet (John) Morris of Victor, Idaho; four sons, Joseph T. (Charlotte) Seikel of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Thomas S., Paul R. and Steven K. Seikel, all of Tucson, Arizona; one grandson, Zachary Van Camp of Canton; a sister, Frances (Bill) Bihari of New Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of forty years, Erma Recla Seikel on 1986; a daughter, Ellen Myers; two sisters, Sister Aquinas, a Dominican, and Sister Aurea, a sister of Divine Providence; four brothers, Walter, Mike, Bob and Karl Seikel.

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10:30 a.m., in St. Joseph Church, with Fr. William L. Arnold officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Dover, where military rites will be presented by the Dover post of the V.F.W. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Friday, Feb. 24, 6 �" 9 p.m. The Rosary will be prayed Friday at 8:30. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Tom, please visit the funeral home�(TM)s Web site and click on “obituaries.”

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 201A W. Ohio Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622; the Tuscarawas County Humane Society, 2143 Prysi Rd. N.W., Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681; or to the charity of the donor�(TM)s choice.

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com