Thomas Michael Brandow

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Thomas Michael Brandow, formerly from Bay City, MI, and current resident of Harvard, IL.

Thomas was born on August 29, 1957 in Bay City, MI and passed away on November 7, 2024, at the age of 67, in Huntley, IL.  He was a family man, and was proud to be called a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Friend, and Leader of his dog pack.  If he wasn’t listening to music, you could see him winning money from scratch-offs, learning more about his family tree, working on his 4-story house, going to concerts with his wife, and playing with his dogs.

Thomas graduated with a dual degree in Geography and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin - Parkwise.  He worked full time while attending college, and showcased true perseverance to all those around him.  In his younger years, he was schooled in Bay City, MI at St. Joseph Elementary and Central High School.  Thomas worked as a unit operator in the electricity industry for his entire career.

Thomas met the love of his life, Margaret Gillard Brandow, on a blind date as a teenager. and they never looked back.  They most recently celebrated 47 years of marriage.  Together they built a family and dedicated their time to supporting their children and grandchildren.  Together, with their own hands, they remodeled and created their dream home.  Their home was filled with their visiting children, grandchildren, and their pack of dogs which brought Tom great joy.

“Life is for the living. Death is for the dead. Let life be music. And death a note unsaid.” (L.Hughes)

Thomas was a lover of all genres of music, his favorites being jazz, classical, and rock, and he collected hundreds of vinyl records for his collection.  He always had a song on and would play his music for the people around him.  He also loved his dogs. When he would walk to bed, every single dog followed to sleep with him.  When he ate food, all the dogs would be waiting under the table as they knew that they would all get their share of his food.  When he went outside, all of them followed because they knew that he was going to throw a tennis ball and they wanted to be the first ones to get it.  All of his dogs adored him like he was a shepherd, and they were his sheep.

Thomas was a big family guy and was so passionate about his family and was surrounded by them at his passing.  Thomas Campbell said, “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”  Tom has, and will continue to live in the people's hearts he touched during his life.  Tom was generous with his time and resources to those around him.  He was always willing to lend advice, help with a project, and give resources to those in need.  He was the dad at every event, supporting his children or volunteering in the concession stand.  He found great pride in watching his granddaughters perform and compete with their synchronized skating teams, and his grandson take the field and ice with his high school football and hockey teams.  His grandchildren shared favorite memories such as riding around in Grandpa’s homemade Wonder Pet boat, learning how to mow the grass on the riding lawn mower (though I’m sure the the lack of pattern in his grass made him laugh for the next week), seeing Grandpa in the stands at the ice rink or football field cheering them on, and helping out with scratching his weekly lotto tickets.

In the last moments of his life, he listened to the voices of his wife, children, and grandchildren.  His surviving family includes: His loving wife of 47 years, Margaret Gillard Brandow; his two children, Stephanie (Gregg) Schopp of Kenosha, WI and Michael (Lauretta) Brandow of Bay City, MI; his grandchildren, Elisabeth Schopp, Saynt Brandow, and Alexandra Schopp; his sisters, Maureen (Bill) Corristan, Marilyn Hemstreet, and Peggy Brandow; his brothers, Terry (Sue) Brandow, Tim Brandow, and Roger Szafranski; and many cherished family members and friends.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Donald Brandow and Janice Langevin Brandow; and his brothers, Mark Brandow, Jay Brandow, and Paul Brandow.

Thomas has requested that no memorial or service be held after his passing.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Thomas' name to the Bay Veterans Foundation.  Your gift will support the local Bay City, MI Veteran programming, which is a cause near and dear to his heart, as his son and many other family members served our country.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas Michael Brandow, please visit our floral store.