Thomas Michael “Mike” Darnell, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Aurora Medical Center.
Born in New Troy, MI on September 20, 1942, he was the son of the late Glendale and Bernadine (Ross) Darnell.
Thomas served his country as an E3 in the United States Navy on the USS Yorktown until his honorable discharge in 1965.
On February 28, 1976, he was united in marriage to Patricia “Trish” Pecsi.
He was employed with Clark Equipment in Buchanan MI, Bendix in St. Joseph, MI and was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years for Three Oaks Fire Department and St. Joseph Fire Department in MI. He also was a member of the Berrien County Mounted Sherriff Posse. He also loved to drive and talk to people so he traveled two million miles delivering travel trailers across the United States.
Thomas loved the fellowship, coffee and donuts at the Heroes Café. He was a member of the American Legion Post 210 in Three Oaks, MI and the American Legion Post 20 and Navy Club Ship 40. It was an honor to have been on the Mission 55 Flight of Champions in October 2019 with his son Timothy as guardian.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia “Trish” Darnell; his children, Timothy (Jennifer) Darnell of Goldthwaite, TX, James (Connie) Darnell of Martin, TN, Donna Gaylord of Martin, TN; his stepdaughters, Keli (Robert) Gambrill of Marietta, GA and Juli (Edward) Vanderwarn of Stuart, FL; his grandchildren, Jason, Jessica, Adam, Colby, Ashley, Katelyn, DJ, Robert, Savanah, Angel, Sarah and Brooke; his great-grandchildren, Gavin, Brayson, Lynnlee, Brennan, Brentley, Raleigh, Weslie, Kylnne, Alyvia and Elizabeth; his brother, Nolan Darnell of Corning, CA and his sister, Kay Miller of Buchanan, MI.
In addition to his parents, Thomas was preceded in death by his daughter, Vicki Covington; his siblings, Naomi, Donald and William Darnell.