Thomas Michael Krol, 82, U.S. Army Reserves Veteran

Born in Lorain on September 3, 1942, he was a lifelong Lorain resident, breathing most of his fresh air a couple blocks from Lake Erie on the east side of town. He attended Lorain Senior High School (class of 1960-B) where he met his future wife, Carol Billick. They married in 1966 and remained married for an eventful 54 years until her death in 2021.

Tom “All-Around Sport” Krol was an avid athlete throughout his adolescence and high school years, playing everything including gridiron football, baseball, partaking in track, and basketball. He supported all of the northeast Ohio pro sports teams, as many Lorain high school teams as he could muster, and he was a particularly vocal presence at his children’s athletic events.

After beginning his college education at Kent State University in the early 1960s, Tom served as a Data Processing Equipment Operator in the U.S. Army Reserves, honorably discharged in 1970. His computer skills led him to work for Bendix Corporation in northeastern Ohio. He then earned a degree in Business Management from Ashland College (now Ashland University) in 1984 and proceeded to work as a computer tech for the Lorain County Board of Education until the mid-2000s.

“TK” was raised Roman Catholic and was an active member of St. Stanislaus Parish until its demise. He served as a mass usher and was a member of the church’s Holy Name Society. He donated his time and resources as appreciation for the longstanding traditions and community his “home parish” provided.

Also known as “Mamoo” and “Big Mama” among close friends, Tom loved music and was an unabashed jazz aficionado. His record collection was vast and contained innumerable jazz and comedy albums, as was his wont. His wit and humor were well-known—almost as much as his fondness for cigars. He appreciated all things Polish, as per his ethnic heritage, and enjoyed the occasional strong drink around good company. Above all else, he appreciated a quiet home life—frugally tending his house and strictly avoiding the fanfare of his many admirers.

He is survived by his three children: Amanda, of Lakewood, Ohio; Greg (Jen Stevenson, of Chicago); and Kevin (Anne Callahan), of Bay Village, Ohio. He was the middle child and leaves behind a sister, Michaeline (Mic) of Whitesboro, New York, and a brother, Andrew (Andy), of North Ridgeville, Ohio.

He was also preceded in death by his father Andrew P. Krol and mother Jean M. Krol (nee Wladecki).

Visitation will be Friday November 15th from 12:00 noon until the time of funeral services at 2:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway, Lorain. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Donations may be made on Tom’s behalf to The Eternal Memory of Poeze Mrzozschnic, 22 Twain - Middle of Nowhere, Bohemia.

To share your memories and condolences with the Krol Family, lease visit Tom’s tribute page at www.gluvnashimohromada.com.