Funeral Mass for Thomas J. “Tom” Roehl will be celebrated Thursday, July 17, at noon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Coupeville with Fr. Michael O’Neil as celebrant. A reception will follow services at the church. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 19 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland, with Pastor James Lindus officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at Sunnyside Cemetery.

Thomas J, “Tom” Roehl, 56, died July 12, 2003, at Whidbey General Hospital. He was born Oct. 30, 1946, in Germany. He came to the United States in 1951 where he was raised and educated in Philadelphia. He graduated from St. Prep High School in 1965 and attended the Kingspoint Merchant Marine Academy and later Drexell University. He met and married Jodi Blackburn in Seattle on May 22, 1971.

They made their home and raised their children together on Whidbey Island. He and Jodi owned and operated a butcher shop and delicatessen and The Loft Restaurant in Greenbank for a number of years. Tom was successful in a number of endeavors including being a freelance writer for the Skagit Valley Herald and Whidbey Press. He was a member of the Island County Planning Commission and served on the Coupeville School Board a number of years. He was an assistant football coach at Coupeville High School and program director of the CWYAA basketball program for two decades. He contributed to the development and management of the Freeland Water District systems and was a project manager for the South Whidbey Port District.

Tom is survived by his wife Jodi; son Morgan; daughter Lisa; son Virgil, his wife Jennifer; son Noah and daughter Samantha, all from Greenbank, and two grandchildren.

Donations may be made to the Thomas J. Roehl Memorial Scholarship. Please contact Coupeville High School for more information. Other preferred charities are St. Vincent DePaul and the Salvation Army.