Thomas I. Bates

Thomas I. Bates, 80, of Kingsford Heights, passed away on November 22, 2019. Tom was born on August 27, 1939 in Houghton, Michigan, son of the late George and Iris (Hanson) Bates. He has been a resident of Kingsford Heights his entire life and was a 1957 graduate of Kingsford High School. After his graduation, Tom joined the United States Air Force. He served with the Air Force Military Police from 1959 until his honorable discharge in 1962. After his discharge from the Air Force, Tom worked as a bricklayer and then worked for Lakeshore Inc. He spent his remaining work years with the Niagara Paper Company, retiring in 1998. Tom married Carol Hicks on July 6, 1963 at the First United Methodist Church in Iron Mountain. Tom has been a lifelong member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Over the years, he had been active with Dickinson Area Hockey Assoc. (DAHA). He worked countless hours icing the rinks, supporting fund raisers and working many extra hours at the mill to take time off to travel with his boys while they played hockey. Tom participated in many sports over the years; baseball, softball, bowling and golf. He was a forty year member of Pine Grove Country Club. Tom loved golf and was a familiar face on area golf courses and local golf events. Tom was also a member of the Kiwanis Ski Club beginning as a ski jumper himself and later as annual worker and supporter of the club. In the off-season, he enjoyed his time playing cards with fellow members. Tom was an avid reader and loved history. He was a true Michigander rooting for his favorite teams the Detroit Lions, Tigers and Red Wings. He was a devoted Kingsford Flivver fan and even traveled to the out-of-town games. These later years he enjoyed spending time at his camp and visiting the Linn camp. He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Carol; children, Paula (Doug) Forstrom of Kingsford, Shari (Troy) Herout of Hugo, MN, Drew (Kathy) Bates of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and David (Kirstin Chapman) Bates of Kimberly, WI; eight grandchildren, Sarah (Josh) Schuiteman, Gunnar Forstrom, Lauren and Gretchen Herout, Brittany and Brett Bates, Grant and Morgan Bates. Visitation will be on Saturday, November 30th from 9:30 until 11:30am at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 am at the church. and Rev. Paul Strom will officiate followed by a luncheon. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. Condolences to the family of Thomas Bates may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.

Thomas I. Bates

August 27, 1939 - November 22, 2019