Thomas Charles Rondot's Obituary
Thomas Charles Rondot, 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, March 27, 2016, at his home of 64 years in New Haven. Born January 4, 1927 in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Alfred Isadore and Walburga Katherine (Getty) Rondot. He married Jeanette Rita Minick on June 17, 1950, who preceded him in death on April 29, 1998. “Tom was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend and the best joke-teller you could have ever had the chance to meet.” Prior to joining the US Navy where he served as a gunner’s mate during WWII, Tom attended St. Peter’s Catholic Grade School and Central Catholic High School. He worked at International Harvester/Navistar International for 40 years, retiring in 1986. He also worked as a reserve deputy for the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. A member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Haven, he was also a member of American Legion Post 330.
He is survived by his sons, William Earl (Maria) Rondot of Fort Wayne and Charles Thomas (Shawn Conner) Rondot of Bloomington; daughters, Constance Marie (James) Gumbel of Fort Wayne, Kathleen Marie (Harry) Zimmerman of New Haven, and Rebecca Marie (Roger) Gunder of Fort Myers, FL; 12 grandchildren, Matthew Gumbel, Meghan Gumbel, Nikolaus, Karl (Amanda), Josef, and Kristoff (Patti) Zimmerman, Chandra (David) Meyer, Jonathan (Brandi) Gunder, Meredith Gunder, Hillary (Ben) Lemaster, Melanie Rondot, and Amanda (David) Buckey; 10 great grandchildren with one on the way, Susanna Kil, Makayla Gumbel, Sara Zimmerman, David, Michael, and Faith Meyer, Jakob, Chandler, and Kendyll Zimmerman, and Gwen Zimmerman; as well as his 93 year old sister, Violet Reising of Indianapolis. He was also preceded in death by his son, Thomas Alfred Rondot; grandson, Nathan Rondot; and siblings, Alfred, Gerald, Eugenia Slater, Franklin, Cletus, Germaine Eifrid, Richard, Paul, Mary Katherine McNutt, Genevieve Nagel, Elizabeth Yerks, Donald, Isabelle, and Daniel.
Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 943 Powers St., New Haven with calling one hour prior. Calling is also 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial in the church cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the American Heart Association.
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