Thomas Poorte

Thomas H. Poorte

August 29, 1923 ~ December 31, 2015

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Thomas Herman Poorte, 92, returned to his Heavenly Father on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, where he resided for the past year.

Thomas was born August 29, 1923 in Ogden, Utah to Edward and Lenora Poorte. He was the brother of Glen, Elmer, Ruth and LaVern, all who preceded him in death. Tom was raised in Ogden and attended Mound Fort School until 9th grade and then attended and graduated from Ogden High School. He was active in sports and especially enjoyed playing baseball.

After graduation, Tom joined the Marine Corps and was shipped overseas to the South Pacific. He was wounded while fighting in Guam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was sent home temporarily to recuperate. While walking down an Ogden street, he saw a beautiful woman walking with her grandmother. He decided right then that he would marry her, and he did. Before their marriage, he was sent back to the Pacific and was with the first occupation forces in Japan. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1945.

True to his promise, he married Enid C. Chambers on March 15, 1946 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were married 65 years before Enid’s passing. They had three children. They resided in Ogden, Utah for 52 years in their “beginner” home before relocating to North Ogden.

Tom worked for the United States Postal Service for 32 years. He worked his way up through the ranks and retired as Assistant Superintendent over Customer and Carrier Management Service.

Tom served faithfully in many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Enid were Ordinance Workers in the Ogden Temple for several years. They also served a mission together in the Utah Ogden Mission. He was put in charge of the mission’s fleet of cars and handling the “naughty” missionaries, some of whom had to be sent home. He was given the job to escort them to the airport and to make sure they got on the plane. A church official once told Tom that if he never saw him again he would be happy. Tom was truly a faithful servant of our Heavenly Father.

Tom is survived by two daughters, Adele Poorte and Carol (Victor) Crowther, a daughter-in-law Kathleen Poorte, five granddaughters, Jennifer (Rodney) Halladay, Lisa (Erich) Gillespie, Alisha Crowther, Michelle (Patrick) Corrigan, and Stephanie Hardy, two great-granddaughters, Tiffany and Tristan Halladay and many grand animals. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and son, Brent T. Poorte.

We would like to express our extreme appreciation to the staff, CNAs, nurses, and all who were responsible for Dad’s care this past year. We felt their love for him and although, at times he could be difficult, he was always treated with kindness and respect. They truly love the veterans who are entrusted in their care. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. The family will meet with friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.