Thomas Gebro

On behalf of Thomas Frederick Gebro, whose soul entered the planet on July 15, 1939 and who transcended his body on December 17, 2021, I offer gratitude. Whatever imprints his presence made within you, know that he was incredibly grateful for how you shared yourself with him, how he could serve you, and how being with you helped him evolve and enjoy his time here. Our family is adjusting to a new way of being on the planet; one without the tangibility of my Dad’s tender hugs and the quiet smile that arose from his eyes. My father was a provider with a warm, generous, and kind heart and truly loved life and connecting with people. He was a lifelong learner and insatiably curious with a heartfelt desire to work, co-create, and share what he was earning and learning with others. 

He is a deeply missed husband of 52 years. He was a steady and loving father who became a treasured friend in adulthood to his children Jim, Kim, and Lee; his oldest son who he has joined in spirit. To Jordan and Logan he was a light-hearted grandpa. To his son-in-law, Ryan, and daughter-in-law, Shan, he was a kind presence, supporting and receiving them as his own children. He held a special place in his heart for his in-laws by marriage in NH. He loved and was incredibly fond of his Minnesota family, including his remaining sisters, Barb and Theresa, and those relatives that settled across the country. He received joy from their conversations, holiday cards, discovering family history through genealogy, honoring impactful transitions in his loved ones’ lives, listening to their experiences and dreams, and delighting in gatherings at his New Hampshire home and at the family cabin in Minnesota. 

My father was a friend to many. Perhaps you were someone who knew him and grew with him as a young altar boy or Boy Scout, as a friend discovering the woods of Minnesota and fishing for the big catch or a delicious sunfish dinner, as a kindred ranch worker, or a classmate in one of his many educational programs. Maybe you were a fellow RV lover and connected around a fire, sat with him at the poker table, shared in weekly lunches with him, or were a dear friend with whom he shared an occasional cordial and chat.

If you were a fellow airmen experiencing new places around the world together you knew him as a Master Sergeant and Vietnam War Veteran, 26 years in the Air Force, ensuring the airworthiness of combat vehicles and the safe return of air crew members after missions. Perhaps you worked with him as a Senior Logistician at Sanders, Lockheed, or BAE Systems. You may have volunteered alongside him in the Nashua youth soccer program, as an election poll worker, or as a volunteer tax preparer for those in need. Whatever relationship and interactions you had with him he truly appreciated it all, even political debates and creating solutions with contrasting perceptions. 

His greatest joy was being with friends and family at the cabin in Minnesota. Our family was fortunate enough to spend many summer vacations all together with him there in his final years. He felt contentment through fishing, pontoon rides, gazing at the lake, fixing up the cabin, and napping with his hat covering his eyes. He enjoyed hours long card games, delighting when he quietly won with that mischievous look. It always made us smile even though we were losing. He was simply radiant when watching his children and grandchildren play and explore the woods, waters, and bike paths of the north country. He cherished the meals we shared, roasting a perfectly golden marshmallow for S’mores, tinkering in his many sheds, watching wildlife, conversing with people in the community as he ran errands, listening to the incredible stylings of auctioneers, and reuniting with friends, neighbors, and relatives. 

He appreciated you and reflected each night on his interactions with us all. He learned about himself and life through every exchange, desiring in each new day to be kinder, more patient, and more loving to others and himself. He knew that misunderstandings would happen and we are all perfectly imperfect during this human experience. My dad always suggested before falling into slumber each night that I reflect on how I treated others that day, how I treated myself, and what I could do the next day to feel better and to be kinder to self and all. He reminded those who were listening of the importance of this practice in having a more easeful and meaningful life.

A small, private family service was held at the end of December in 2021. His ashes rest in the sacred space of the NH State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen. The beautiful being called Tom leaves none of us behind. What remains is his essence, memories within us, and all that we co-created with him. Ultimately, my dad was a family man to all families…the one he was born into, the one he and his beautiful wife created, his military family, and the human family, which he found so fascinating. It seems to me that he always had a sense of what Ram Dass meant when he said, “We’re all just walking each other home.” Tom Gebro was happy to walk with all of us and now he is home.

Sincerely, 
Kim Gebro
Daughter of Thomas Gebro