A viewing for Thomas Joseph Ropp, 66, will be held Tuesday, October 10, 2023 from Noon until 4:00 p.m. at Ferguson Funeral Home, located at 804 W. Utah Avenue in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Thomas was born April 4, 1957 in Midland, Michigan to Clarence A. Ropp and Mary Louise (Shannon) Ropp. He passed from this life on Thursday, October 5, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Thomas grew up in Midland, Michigan in a home with nine children, graduating from Meridian High School in Sanford, Michigan. As a young man, he worked several jobs. At 18 years of age, on October 31 st , he moved to the Houston, Texas area looking for work opportunities. He settled in Huffman, Texas, living there for the next 42 years.
He married Jane Morrison, and they had a son Derek who passed away in 1990 at the age of three. He then married Cathie Ann Deen and they had two children, Dustin and Hayley.
Tom worked 18 years at a chemical plant, then ran his own business, Deen’s Dirt Yard, for the next 10 yrs. He then worked for Maxim Crane Company as a crane operator, retiring in the Spring of 2022. He was a member of the International Operators Union, Local 450.
On July 31, 2015, he married Marilyn Keown in Baytown, Texas and they enjoyed a wonderful life together. They had both retired and had the wonderful opportunity to travel across the country in their RV for 6 months beginning January 2023, visiting family and making memories. They recently moved to Ninnekah, Oklahoma to be closer to Marilyn’s children.
Tom was fiercely devoted to his family and friends, and the kids were everything to him. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and never expected anything in return. He was the most good-natured, hard-working, and steady man. He was a “Daddy that could fix anything” and enjoyed working on mechanical engines, building and home improvements and was great at anything he tried. Tom liked classic country music, dancing, shooting pool and playing games. He was especially fond of the card game, Euchre and would tolerate Spades. He loved the outdoors and hunting in West Texas, sharing his love of the sport with Dustin and Hayley. He also enjoyed working his big garden, riding his tractor, mowing, and loved his farm. He had a soft spot for their cat, Socks.
He was preceded in death by both parents, his son Derek, and his brother Kim Ropp.
Loved ones left to remember him are his wife Marilyn; son and daughter-in-law Dustin and Candace Ropp and granddaughter Kynlee of Tallahassee, Florida; daughter and son-in-law Hayley and Casey Johnson of Brazoria, Texas; step-sons Kyle Gerstner and partner Adrienn of Wichita Falls, Texas and Chris Gerstner and wife Kierstin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; siblings and their spouses Ken Ropp and David Griffin, Pam Pfalum, Clarence Ropp and Jerry Evans, Roxanne Ropp, Sue Magee, Jeff and Karen Ropp, and April Medeiros; many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
Tom was valued by all that knew him, and his impact on their lives will be remembered.
Viewing and cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.