Obituary of Thomas Edward Laubman
April 10, 1944 – Macklin, Saskatchewan
April 13, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta
Tom Laubman, beloved husband and cherished companion of Karen Martin, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, just a few days after his 78th birthday.
Tom was born in Macklin, SK, and enjoyed an idyllic childhood. He was raised in love by Ed and Lillian Laubman, along with his older sister Cathy (Van Sickle: 1942- November 2021). Tom loved sports and excelled in hockey, baseball, and golf. He delighted Karen, and others, with stories about growing up in Macklin! Playing with friends from morning until nighttime, only breaking from play for meals. Swimming, golf, wandering the town, playing pool, floats at the cafe, hanging with buddies at the Macklin Lake cabins, community dances, and the family band. When pals weren’t available Tom enjoyed wandering in and out of the local businesses, chatting with “the big boys” and men, watching the mechanics, checking out the farm implements, looking through the hardware store inventory and helping out at his dad’s elevator. Karen was ever curious about his Tom Sawyer-like experiences as there were many!
At heart, and over a lifetime of daily actions, Tom’s love and focus on his family, were ever present. Tom married Judy Froh and they raised Shauna and Andrea Cori in Regina, Redwood Meadows, and Cochrane. On December 31, 1984, Tom married Karen Martin, in Victoria, BC, and she brought Andrea Lee, Jody, and Greg into their blended family. Ashley Jayne completed the “yours, mine and ours.” Tom felt their success and happiness as a blended family was derived from a commitment to love and hard work to ensure all the children knew they were “ours.” Tom’s eldest daughter, Pari, grew up apart from us, but remains cherished by Tom’s family. He was a caring son to his aging parents, a loving and devoted partner, but Tom thought his role as a father came completely naturally to him. It was his greatest source of success and happiness; his children and grandchildren were each a marvel to him! Tom was grateful for the love and commitment, demonstrated to their own families, by sons in law Craig Ruff, Matthew Rimmer, Jason Dick, Tim Neuls, Steven Mercer and Aaron King, and daughters in law Janine Whitney Quinlan and Pam Malekos. Tom rejoiced in the birth, growth, and the accomplishments of his grandchildren. Each one a unique and special person to him. Janae and Dannica Ruff, Luca and Isaac Rimmer, Evan and Joelle Dick, Quintin, Lucia and Nate Neuls, Dan and Jackson Malekos, Alex Martinez, and Amber and Tommy King will miss their Poppa’s love, patient support and precious times telling him about all their adventures, challenges and successes.
Tom obtained three university degrees and enjoyed being a teacher and school administrator in Regina, Calgary, Three Hills and Trochu. After an early retirement Tom obtained credentials to assess and assist children with learning challenges, and the many years spent in this role were some of his favorites. Tom also enjoyed working a summer at Frere’s Ranch, teaching English as a second language, managing the Trochu Lions campground, and working on Trochu town counsel.
Tom’s appreciation of community and small towns made Pescadero, Baja Sur, Mexico such a good fit for wintertime snow birding and retirement. Tom and Karen drove a variety of RV rigs back and forth to the Baja for more than a decade. Tom so enjoyed a road trip in his truck, he loved the beauty around Pescadero, the people, the pace, and the beaches. He admired the beauty of the Spanish language and so enjoyed its study, especially with his gracious teachers at Hablando Mexicano, Todos Santos. Tom greatly enjoyed all water related activities and he and amigos spent many days kayaking, boogie boarding, and snorkeling together. Karen is thankful to all Tom’s amigos, because she just couldn’t keep up with his energy level and persisting desire to explore. Winters in the Baja were made all the sweeter by many, many family visits.
Macklin, SK, remained a fundamental part of Tom and he remained a small-town kind of guy. He was down to earth and never impressed by ‘glitz’ regardless of its form. He was never petty and genuinely found happiness in the success or accomplishments of others. Tom was a kind and gentle man and he was happiest when he was helping and doing. He was extremely generous with his time and talents. He valued effort, hard work, and was never a complainer. He loved traveling, hiking, and camping, but mostly only in the Baja! Annual summer family camping trips and boating were highlights for Tom. He loved teaching the grands to water ski!
When Tom was diagnosed with a late stage lung cancer last fall the family in shock. He never complained and tried all he could to retain his health. Tom’s illness progressed quickly, and it seemed each week a new health challenge and another loss was experienced. In the last while the cancer moved to his bones and pain was a constant fiend. Despite the care and support of family and friends to enable Tom to stay at home, his pain and debility required a move to the Agape Hospice for a short time prior to his death. The family is grateful for the skilled and compassionate staff sought to ease Tom’s pain and sooth all of our spirits.
The weight of the families emotional and physical burden has been eased and carried upon the hearts and shoulders of family, friends and community. Karen is grateful for all who reached out and who kept the family close with prayers. They never felt alone. Karen is thankful for visits, food, calls, texts, smiles and hugs.
The family would like to thank and announce their gratitude to the Palliative Homecare Team as help was always a phone call away. Additionally, the family would like to thank; the Safeway Montgomery Pharmacy staff who organized, reorganized, and further organized a dizzying supply of medications; the Tom Baker outpatient and inpatient staff who helped us balance hope with pragmatism; the strangers who donned a mask and offered an arm to help a suffering man, vulnerable to illness and fighting for life; their daughters’ employers who, amidst one COVID staffing crisis after another, supported their time away from work to help care for their dad; Dr. Reid MacLean-Weist who came to their home and always had time for Tom; and to the close friends of their children, you don’t know us, but we know of your love and support to our children during these sad and challenging days. The family is especially grateful to Ken and Ruth King for helping with the care of little grandkids, when we could not.
A letter from Karen to Tom
“Though my grief is great, my gratitude and love is greater – for the tireless support and dedication I received from a fine man, for the generous and loving father he was to our children, for the kind and caring man he was to family, friends and his communities. A life well lived, my love – I will cherish you every day of my life. I will be thankful in all circumstances.”
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Thomas
Edward
Laubman 1944 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta