Thomas Tyrell Nowlen

November 11, 1925 - November 16, 2012

Mr. Thomas Tyrrell Nowlen, 87, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 16, 2012 at Royalton Manor Rehabilitation Home. Memorial services celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 12:00 Noon at the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, 2506 Niles Ave., St. Joseph. Visitation with his family will be for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. Please share memories, messages and photos at www.florin.net. Mr. Nowlen, born on Nov. 11, 1925, was a 1944 graduate of Benton Harbor High School, where he played on the football team, tennis team, and was a member of the student council. Thomas then went on to join the Navy where he studied and trained at Notre Dame University. Thomas continued his studies at Kalamazoo College, in Kalamazoo Michigan, where he played on the renowned Kalamazoo College tennis team. Mr. Nowlen graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in economics in 1949. Upon graduation from Kalamazoo College, Mr. Nowlen proudly worked for the Nowlen Lumber Company. Mr. Nowlen was a member of the Home Builders of America, and the Benton Harbor Exchange Club. Thomas was also a long time member of Peace Temple United Methodist Church, in Benton Harbor Mi., where he coached basketball for youth programs at Peace Temple United Methodist Church for many years. Mr. Nowlen and his children found great fellowship, life time friendship and support in the congregation of Peace Temple, and would like to thank them. Mr. Nowlen was a talented athlete. He played tennis, racquet ball, was an avid skier, and an accomplished sailor, building his own Lightning Class sailboat and competing in races within the Lightning Class. Mr. Nowlen was preceded in death by his wife Frances Carrie Nowlen (McTague) and is survived by his three children: David Nowlen of Austin Texas, Todd Nowlen and daughter in law DebbieTom of Phoenix Arizona, and Jennifer Boyer and son in law Parris Boyer of Benton Harbor Michigan. He is also survived by his four grandchildren: Mary Alyse Nowlen, Frances Mallory Nowlen, Patrick Tyrrell Nowlen, and Alanna Clare Nowlen, all of Phoenix, Arizona; his nieces and nephews: Cynthia Lennox Nowlen of Muskegon, Mi., Steven Patrick Nowlen and Cathy Nowlen of Albuquerque, NM., Sharon Leigh and Scott Hanshue of Dowling, MI., Kathryn Diane Johnson of Cocoa Beach, Fl., Elizabeth Jeanne Griffin of Seattle, WA. and Aaron Hunter Griffin of Bothell, WA. Our father dedicated his life to us and we will miss him. We will remember fondly camping, canoeing, going to the YMCA each Friday night, times with him at our Grandfather Stanley’s home on Lake Michigan, Peace Temple outings, and thousands of other amazing adventures. Thank you Dad for all your love. We love you and will miss you! We also would like to thank all the staff of Royalton Manor and Great Lakes Caring Hospice for making the last month so peaceful for our father and for us. Your kindness, patience and support was immeasurable, and has made this experience so much easier. Thank you! The Nowlen family.