Thomas Sawyer

Thomas Robert Sawyer went home to be with his Heavenly Father on December 24, 2021. His absence is tangible in all the lives that he touched during his time on earth. Tom was born on June 15, 1949, in Toledo, Ohio to his parents Robert and Margaret Sawyer. He graduated from Toledo’s Bowsher High School in 1967. Tom earned his undergraduate degree at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, then attended the University of Idaho where he studied and received his MBA. Tom married his lovely wife, Jean on June 24, 1972, in Canal Fulton, Ohio. Together they raised a strong, Christian family. They moved to Moscow, Idaho in January of 1984. There, Tom worked as a facilities engineer at University of Idaho until his retirement in June of 2012. Besides work and family, Tom had a variety of hobbies and groups in his life. He was an active member of the Gideons and the Latah Railway Model Train Club. He was also a fundamental part of the fabric at the Moscow Church of the Nazarene. Everyone there was blessed by his countless hours of service and his store of wisdom. Every Sunday morning service, Tom would be found singing praises to his Savior. His favorite thing to do was sing with his friends in the Backrow Quartet. Tom is survived by his wife Jean, his two sons, Rob (and Pam) Sawyer and Eric (and Julie) Sawyer. He had six grandchildren, Jordyn, Corinne, Lillian, Nathan, Hank, and Maggie. Also, his brother Dan (and Kathie) Sawyer and sister, Amy (and Ted) Szalkowski. His memorial service will occur on January 21, at 11am, at the Moscow Church of the Nazarene. In honor of Tom’s passing, instead of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the American Parkinson Disease Association. Words cannot describe how much Thomas Robert Sawyer was loved by his family and friends, or how much he will be missed by those who he had an impact on. However, comfort after his loss can be found in this scripture from 1 Peter 5:10. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”