Robert Tom McDonald

Robert Thomas “Tom” McDonald, 90, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away peacefully on February 29, 2020 at Primrose Retirement Community of Newburgh.  

Tom was born January 17, 1930 on his family’s farm in Midland, Kentucky to the late Rufus and Polly McDonald. After graduating from Bremen High School in 1948, he moved to the Chicago area to work in the steel mills and attend electronics repair school. He later entered the Army and was stationed at Ft. Campbell where he served as a medic. After serving in the Army, Tom worked at Chrysler’s Evansville Plymouth Assembly Plant. For many years, he worked for Robert H. Meyers Building Supply, which led him to start his own remodeling business, McDonald Building Service, in 1969. For nearly 30 years, until his retirement in 1997, Tom served hundreds of clients through his remodeling business and his numerous rental properties throughout the city.

Tom was a longtime member of Eastside Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and later became a member of American Baptist East. He was a member of Lessing Masonic Lodge No. 464 and Hadi Shrine Temple. He loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Indiana Hoosiers basketball.                        

He is survived by his son Larry (Donna) McDonald of Evansville and daughter Patty (Van) Haas of Newburgh; his granddaughters Stephanie Eickhoff (Roy) Niemi of Clarksville, Indiana; Andrea Eickhoff (Kent) Anderson of Indianapolis; and Crystal McDonald (Nick) McCallum of Indianapolis; his grandson Neil (Kelsey) McDonald of Evansville; his great-grandchildren Aidan and Gracen Niemi, Quinn and Marlo Anderson, Connor and Ellie McCallum, Leo and Vivienne McDonald; step-grandchildren Sy Haas, Nathan Haas, and Micah (Bailee) Haas; and step-great grandchildren Cooper and Carter Haas, Emilee Hallee, and Ainslee Haas. He is also survived by his long-time companion, Jo Ann Gerling.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Mary K. McDonald, who passed away in 1998 and by his five sisters and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Embrace Church, formerly American Baptist East, 6300 Washington Avenue with Pastor David Huff and Pastor Jeff Stratton officiating. Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

Friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN.

Tom’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Primrose Retirement Community of Newburgh and Heart to Heart Hospice. The family is especially grateful to Lorie Lynch and Katie Bell of Tri-State Companion Care for their compassionate care during Tom’s final days.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: The ALS Association Indiana Chapter at  7202 E 87th St #102, Indianapolis, IN 46256; American Diabetes Association at 3700 Bellemeade Ave, Evansville, IN 47714; American Heart Association at 6500 Technology Center Drive, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278.

Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

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