Thomas Edward Abel, 66, of Kalispell, died of a heart attack on March 1, 2014, while enjoying family time in the pool at Glacier Wilderness Ranch.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Oscar Abel; and stepdaughter, Jennifer Servo.

Tom is survived by his mother, Lucille Ione Ketter Abel; wife, Sherry Servo Abel; son, Eric Thomas Abel, his wife Lien, and their two children, Kiyan and Quinlyn, of San Jose, Calif.; son, Edward Bryan Abel, his wife Marcelle, and their twin children, Ceceilia and Cale, of Portland; stepdaughter, Christa Handford, her husband Hank, and Christa’s daughter, Mallory Slaten, of Kalispell; sister, Jennifer Abelle, of Puebla, Mexico; sister, Lynn Abel Dodds, and her husband, Roy, of Elk River, Minn.; Tom’s first wife and mother of his sons, Sheryl Darlene Hayden; nephew, Christian Abel, and his wife, Tin Tin, of New York; niece, Theresa Abel, of Alabama; nephew, Michael Abel, of Texas; aunt, Margery Pohle, of Wisconsin; along with several cousins and cherished friends from far and wide.

Born Feb. 19, 1948, in Milwaukee, Wis., he spent most of his childhood in Wauwatosa before moving with the family to St. Paul, Minn., in 1960, where he attended Mounds View High School and was voted “Mr. Friendly” by his classmates.   

Following commencement, Tom attended the University of Minnesota where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics, then went on to become a teacher. Years later, Tom followed his father to Montana, where together they co-founded a general construction company, Western Environmental Homes, and subsequently a pool and spa company, The Pool Works. After nearly 20 years of construction work with his dad, Tom had a paradigm shift in his career path. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Montana State University, and started his next company, Abel Engineering, where he was happily self-employed as a professional engineer until his recent death.

Whatever Tom did, it wasn’t enough to be a participant. He felt compelled to put in the extra effort and take on leadership roles. He was president of the Montana Society of Engineers; vice president and a national delegate for the Structural Engineering Association of Montana; member of the Montana Environmental Consultants Association; and most recently had the honor of participating as a board member for the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations. He was also a past member of the Flathead Valleyaires; two-time former commodore and vice commodore of North Flathead Yacht Club; vice president of the Glacier Street Rod Association Inc. and editor of The Bearly News; member of Northridge Lutheran Church; and frequent volunteer at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.

Tom was a lover of life and the vast array of experiences it had to offer. He was a veritable walking catalog of jokes that he shared at any opportunity. He was a kind, gentle man who loved and cherished his wife and entire family, regarded his sons with unsurpassable love and pride, and was a true friend and mentor to many. His kindness, caring and giving nature leaves a valuable legacy from a life well lived.

A funeral service will be held in Tom’s memory at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Dr. in Kalispell, followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge, 1820 U.S. 93 S., Kalispell, beginning at 5 p.m.

For those who wish, a monetary donation may be made to the Tom Abel Memorial Fund at West One Bank in Kalispell.