Thomas “Tom” Morley Schwarz, 61

Tom Schwarz, the big old, 6-foot Teddy Bear with a cute, endearing smile, died March 28, 2025, in Crystal Lake, after more than seven years of debilitating health, having suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was 61.

He was born Nov. 18, 1963, near Cleveland, Ohio, the first son of Thomas C. and Joan (Morley) Schwarz.

Tom was a staunch Green Bay Packers fan and football follower. He starred on football fields as a high school student in Texas and while in college at Carroll University, Waukesha, Wis. He proudly wore Packer paraphernalia year round and especially in the company of Bears fans.

Tom met Lora Totton when they were freshmen at Carroll. On July 5, 1986, two months after their graduation, they married at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Waukesha.

With a bachelors’ degree in chemistry, Tom began his professional career as an adhesives guy working in the lab at Johnson & Johnson. He and his co-workers developed paper tape used by hospitals and medical facilities. It adhered well and came off with ease.

In 1994, the Schwarzes moved to Woodstock when Tom accepted a position in the lab at Morton International. With an MBA from Keller Business School, he was promoted to sales – a position that merged his zeal for traveling, knowledge of adhesives, and penchant for people.

Tom lived to help others, was a great teacher, and could fix just about everything. He and Lora led the youth group at First Presbyterian Church – Woodstock, taking them on a mission trip to rebuild a home in D’Iberville, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina. With his fix-it talent he also volunteered in tornado-stricken communities and for Rockford Urban Ministries.

When First Presbyterian sought a new location, Tom served on the committees to acquire land and design and build the new church. Using his gift of administration, he also served the church as a ruling elder.

Saturday-morning golf, science-fiction books and movies, and the arts were his avocations. He was moved by music, whether classical, jazz, church hymns, Boston or Styx.

Above all, Tom’s family, friends, and co-workers knew he lived to help others and they could count on him. He was a man of his word, who treasured stability and felt called to provide it for others.

Tom was confident, but never cocky, and he insisted on only one thing: that he not be called Tommy or Uncle Tom. If he could be faulted, it would be for not asking for help.

He is survived by his wife Lora Totton-Schwarz, Wonder Lake; their child, CJ Schwarz – formerly Thomas James Schwarz, Brookfield, Wis.; a brother Todd E. Schwarz, New York City; a cousin Dale (Amy) Liikala, Ohio; and in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt, Marge Liikala, and cousin Wayne Liikala.

Tom’s life will be celebrated during a visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. and a memorial service at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church – Woodstock, 2018 N. Route 47. Please wear Tom’s favorite color – red.

Memorials can be made to Brain Injury Association of Illinois, biail.org, PO Box 70, Palos Heights,IL 60463, or First Presbyterian Church – Woodstock.

Arrangements were by Justen Funeral Home, Wonder Lake.