Obituary of Thomas O. Menees, Jr.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC---Thomas O. Menees, Jr. died peacefully with his children at his side on May 24, 2012 in Hilton Head, South Carolina after a brief illness. He was born on July 31, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Ruth and Thomas Menees. He graduated from the University Of Illinois in 1952. Tom was a commissioned Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served in Dallas, Texas as a Quarter Master after the Korean War. Mr. Menees enjoyed a lifelong career in the Food Manufacturing Industry, retiring in 2010 as a Manufacturing Consultant from Major Products Inc., of Little Ferry, NJ. Tom was a member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Paramus, NJ for 50 years where he served as an Elder before moving to Hilton Head upon his retirement. Tom and his first wife Patricia raised five children in Hillsdale and Ridgewood, NJ and vacationed in Plymouth, Vermont for many decades. Tom was a true gentleman, a born storyteller with a keen sense of humor, a teacher and a mentor. He enjoyed gardening and photography and shared his love of nature with his children and grandchildren. He volunteered for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Tom Menees lived a wonderful life that was compassionate, joyful and fun and he will be missed by those many lives he touched. He was predeceased by his second wife Jane Hagedorn Menees of Boonton, NJ who succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2006. . He is survived by his children, Sheryl and Paul Caponera of Mesa, AZ, Melanie Menees of Gilbert, AZ, Kristi and Gerard Gardner of Hilton Head, SC, Todd and Kate Menees of Plymouth, VT, Lindyl and Vito Arno of Newton, MA; stepchildren Sue and Steve Boros, Christine Connolly, Dave and Jennifer Hagedorn: seven grandchildren and six step-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, John Menees of Olympia Fields, IL and his first wife, Patricia Menees of Peoria, AZ. Private burial at Greenwood Cemetery Boonton, NJ will be held the morning of Saturday June 2, 2012. A memorial service will follow on Saturday at 2:00 PM at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 650 Pascack Road, Paramus, NJ. Memorial contributions in Tom's name may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, P.O. Box 11475, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Arrangements are by Mackey Funeral Home ( www.mackeyfh.com), 107 Essex Ave., Boonton.