Thomas Gehlhausen

There’s a little less laughter and love in the world today. Tom Gehlhausen loved to laugh, and more importantly, he loved making other people laugh. Constantly chatting with everyone he met, he was a friend to waitresses, painters, and priests. He always had one more joke to tell. Tom loved Indiana. Born in Evansville on November 12, 1933, he graduated from Reitz Memorial High School and later enrolled at the University of Evansville, majoring in business. He left school to enlist in the Navy, serving as a quartermaster aboard the USS Chukawan during the Korean War. One weekend while stationed in Newport, Rhode Island, a friend introduced Tom to Maxine Howe, another Hoosier, who was visiting her Navy brother in the same apartments. Tom loved Maxine, his wife of 63 years. They married in 1956 and then moved back to Evansville after his honorable discharge. Tom began working for the family business Gehlhausen Bros. Paint Company, but also found time to play semi-pro baseball, catching for the Jasper Reds. Tom later held a number of sales and management positions with companies throughout the Midwest. Tom loved baseball, especially coaching Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams in Bloomington. Tom’s success and spirit on the diamond earned him a compliment from former IU basketball coach Bobby Knight, whose son Timmy was coached by Gehlhausen. Coach Knight called Tom “one of the best baseball coaches” he’d ever seen. Tom loved his family, especially spending time with everyone. He brought them along on sales calls throughout central Indiana. He attended hundreds of his children’s and grandchildren’s ball games, sports camps, swim meets, and dance recitals. He would even sit patiently while his five-year-old granddaughter styled his hair at the “beauty shop.” Tom loved to tease the people he loved the most, giving them funny nicknames and sharing a big laugh. Tom and his laughter left this world on November 14, 2019 at IU Health Bloomington Hospital after a prolonged illness. His family misses him dearly, but they have plenty of memories, photos, and digital phone messages to remind them of his laugh and fun-loving personality. He is preceded in death by his father Roman F. Gehlhausen and mother Nellie Marie (Day) Gehlhausen, both of Evansville. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Maxine Mary (Howe) Gehlhausen of Bloomington, daughters Linda Marie Fenoglio (Chris) of Nashville, Tenn. and Susan Elizabeth Blackwell (Larry) of Bloomington, sons Thomas Lee Gehlhausen Jr. (Beth) of Fishers and Randy Brian Gehlhausen (Lori) of Bloomington, one cousin David Michael Gehlhausen of Celebration, Fla., 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts in Tom’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation of Indiana at www.hvafofindiana.org. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37 is handling private arrangements for the Gehlhausen family. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends to appreciate at www.allencares.com

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Thomas Gehlhausen

November 12, 1933 - November 14, 2019