Thomas A."Tom" Olzawski

A member of the Greatest Generation, Tom's life embodied the American Dream. Born to a Polish immigrant father and Polish American mother, he was always grateful for the freedoms and opportunities he was afforded. He valued faith, family, education, laughter, nature, and hard work. He was most at peace with a dog at his feet, a book in his lap, his family coming and going, and all those he loved happy and healthy. He enjoyed vintage country music - especially Patsy Cline, dancing the swing, Polka or two-step with his wife and his girls, Cajun Chef Justin Wilson, Bonanza, Andy Griffith, and oysters from his favorite White River Fish Market. Tom's version of Americana was baseball (the Cardinals or any team featuring Dallas Keuchel), hot dogs (preferably Kielbasa sausage) and hot apple pie a' la mode. Born in Okmulgee at home on a hot summer's day in July 1925, Tom was named after the doctor who delivered him. He was the oldest of four children born to Wincenty and Helen Olzawski, and was a very protective older brother. He often joked "Adam and Eve were from Okmulgee" which was repeatedly confirmed to his children when someone with a connection to Tom and/or Okmulgee inevitably appeared during every family vacation, restaurant visit, or random gathering. He had a paper route as a young boy, stopping at People's Bakery (now Coleman's) every morning for a donut after throwing his papers. This started a lifetime sweet tooth tradition with stops at Ann's Bakery following his senior exercise class at McClure Park. "Tommy" attended St. Anthony School in Okmulgee from grades 1 through 11, graduating from Okmulgee High School after St. Anthony closed. While in high school, he worked at Brownie's Shoe Store in downtown Okmulgee. It is here that he fit Lois with her first pair of high heels, causing Mr. Brown to tell Tom, "She's a keeper!" Little did he know. Tom proudly served his country during World War II as a Flight Engineer in the Army Air Corps, now the Air Force. During an onboard fire upon landing at Love Field, he dove out the cockpit window, shattering his elbow on the pavement below. He was subsequently honorably discharged following surgery to save movement in his left arm in what was then an experimental orthopedic procedure with only a slight chance of success, it exceeded all expectations, and he lived life with a few scars and a great story to tell. After his stint in the armed service, Tom attended OU, transferring to the University of Denver after a semester where he earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Airport Management. He was an active member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and continued to support his House and DU throughout his life. While in college, he worked for Continental Airlines on the midnight shift, where he acted as the gate agent, bag handler and ground crew! Tom and Lois married August 6th, 1949, following a romantic and memorable long-distance relationship. He loved her "beyond the blue" until the end. Their first home was in Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked for Mid-Continent Airlines. He was then sent to Huron, South Dakota, to help during the pheasant season rush. It was here the first of many beloved dogs entered the Olzawski's life. Jet, a beautiful and intelligent black lab, was just a puppy when given to Tom on his walk home from work by the lady who watched him stop to pet the pup daily. Jet helped raise the 6 Olzawski children, and was followed by Candy, Hoss, Joe, Dax, Duke, Hobo, Gretel, Mack, and Sally; cats Sammy and Bob; horses Diamond, Jimmy, Bebe, Missy and Cricket; bunny Salt & Pepper, rooster Prince, and the unforgettable guinea pigs, Woody and Ekhard. Besides having an open door to stray animals of every sort, the Olzawski table usually included a few "extras" for the 6pm evening meal. When Vicki joined the Up With People organization her senior year in high school, it also meant the household became a revolving door for her new friends in the international cast. Two of those, Woody Woodward from California and Ekhard Wacker from Germany, lived with the Olzawski family from time to time and became second sons to Tom and Lois. Tom left the airline industry after a relocation move to Houston when it was discovered he had climatic asthma. Returning to Tulsa with his first child on the way, he ventured into insurance sales through Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and thereafter opened a Traveler's Insurance agency. At the time he sold his business, it was the largest solo-owned agency in Oklahoma. He was president of the American Business Club during their national convention in Tulsa. Tom subsequently branched out into commercial real estate and developed the Lois-Frances addition at Taylor's Ferry on Fort Gibson Lake. He, Lois and Carl own two popular shopping centers on Brookside in Tulsa, and Tom actively participated in the Brookside Business Association. His children have heard from many of Tom's past tenants he was "the very best landlord" to them. Tom and Lois became restauranteurs with the opening of Ozzie's in Okmulgee in the early 60's. Tom's friend from the service, Gene Autry, aka "the singing cowboy", visited the family there for a taste of Okie home cooking. The family cherishes the memories and photos from that day and of Gene's participation on horseback in the Creek Nation's annual parade during his visit to Okmulgee. Tom and his friend, Bill Claiborne, brought the first Mazda dealership to Oklahoma, much to the delight of his children of driving age. Tom insisted his children learn to drive a stick shift as he felt it was a necessary life skill. This may or may not have contributed to the joy for (fast) driving most of his children possess. Mazda of Tulsa became Town & Country motors when Volvo and International Harvester vehicles were added to the showroom. Tom and Lois earned wonderful travel opportunities due to the success of this venture. Tom had the good fortune of knowing many of his maternal relatives growing up, but only met his fraternal family as an adult when he and Lois journeyed to Poland. They sent letters through the years, packages at Christmas and connected on Facebook, but meeting face-to-face deeply impacted Tom. Patti hosted an exchange student from Poland, also named Tom (Tomek in Polish), who became another cherished connection to Tom's Polish roots. The two Toms hit it off, and enjoyed many moments together during Tomek's 2-year stay in America. Hunting and fishing were an integral part of Tom's life. He passed his love of nature on to his sons, and shared many adventures with them, his brothers, nephews, and friends. Tom was a longtime member and past President of the Oil Capital Rod and Gun Club. He respected the balance of nature and supported conservation and recycling efforts. Tom and Lois attended the Church of the Madalene as senior parishioners but spent many years as an active family at St. Pius X parish where Tom sat on the Parish Council. He helped plan the development of the church in its current location moving from the original site in the infamous barn on 21st Street. Tom was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Madalene's Men's Group. Tom ran for an Oklahoma State Senate seat in 1964, partially because he was "tired of the incumbent not having an opponent". He was a staunch Democrat, educating himself on current topics and voting accordingly. He instilled an awareness of political issues in all his children and encouraged them to vote regardless of whether they agreed politically. Tom cherished the personal note he and Lois received from President and Mrs. Carter congratulating them on 70 years of marriage a few short years ago. Recently, Tom was asked about his daily routine during an interview for an in-home caregiver through the Veteran's Administration. He described a very regimented diet, a nightly glass of Mogen David red wine and "reading I have a thirst for knowledge". He read every column of the Tulsa World, Reader's Digest, National Geographic, AARP magazine, etc., routinely clipping and sharing articles with family and friends on topics he knew would be of interest. He was probably the most faithful viewer of "Sixty Minutes" on the planet. Sunday meals were planned around the tick, tick, tick sound signaling the start of that show. To adequately describe a life well lived stretching 97 years is an impossible task. The memorable and often hilarious family vacations, one to Denver where the whole family was sick or landed in the hospital, including Tom with bleeding ulcers; taking two cars on driving vacations and repeatedly passing one another on the toll bridge to the exasperation of the toll attendants; catching fish in the St. Lawrence River simply by saying "here fishy fishy"; or the Alaskan cruise where Tom felt healed of his retinal cancer by the onboard priest. The tender moments, the difficult passages, the faith-filled times, the laughter, all wrapped into a few words won't do his life justice. The lessons Tom leaves us are these: Be kind to others, animals and yourself. Tell your family and friends you love them. Do your best. Vote. Thank a Veteran. Never stop learning. Praise your God for all your blessings and say the Lord's Prayer with fervor as if it is your last day on Earth. Those grieving Tom's relocation to the "happy hunting ground" as he often called heaven, include Lois, his wife of 73 years, his daughter, Vicki Robinson and her husband, Gary, of Conroe, TX, their sons Stuart of Conroe; Sterling and wife Christianne of Houston, TX; daughter Susan Barrett of Tulsa, her children, Tommy (Tom's namesake) of Oologah, OK; daughter Jamie Rogers and husband David; son Carl and wife, Michele, of Waterford, VA and their children Lauren, Luke and Lindsay; daughter Patti Barker of Tulsa and her daughters, Madalyn Wiseman and husband, Clem, Channing of Springdale, AR and exchange son Tomek Kobus; daughter Julie York and husband, Steve, of Gilmer, TX and their children, Nick and wife Jennifer of Daingerfield, TX; Zac and wife Kelsey of Portland, OR; Natalie York and partner Philip Abraham of Oklahoma City; daughter-in-law Carol Olzawski of Tulsa and Vince's daughter, Emily; 9 great-grandchildren; Beau and Brooks Barrett, Rhett and Richelle Rogers, Avery and Elliot Wiseman, Grainger and Georgia York, Quinn Abraham; his sister Amelia "Sis" Skeith, his kind and dedicated caregiver, David Johnson, his adopted German family - Dorothea, Karin and Elsbeth Wacker - and many stateside and Polish nieces, nephews, and cousins who will also miss their Uncle Tom. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wincenty and Helen, his brother Gene and sister-n-law, Janice, his brother Jim and sister-n-law Jackie, his niece Carolyn Ketchum and her son Brian, his niece Teresa Skeith, his German son Ekhard Wacker, and his beloved firstborn, Vince. If you feel led, Tom would be grateful for donations in his memory made to Folds of Honor (foldsofhonor.org), Church of the Madalene Social Concerns Committee (madalenetulsa.org) or the charity of your choice. The family thanks everyone for your love and kindness during this difficult time. The memories you share provide us with much appreciated warmth and comfort.

Thomas A."Tom" Olzawski

July 16, 1925 - November 28, 2022