Thomas J. "Tom" Stahl, a longtime Ontonagon resident, died at his home on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. He was 85.

Born August 1, 1940 in Hubbell, Michigan, Tom was the oldest child of Joseph and Eva Stahl. He attended Saint Cecilia School in Hubbell through the eighth grade, then completed his education at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School, where he was a member of the track and football teams before graduating as a member of the class of 1958.

After graduation, Tom worked in the Copper Country primarily in the copper mining industry, but his enlistment in the U.S. Army sent him to a variety of locations. His journey after high school eventually intersected with that of Judy Haanela of Hancock; the couple married on January 28, 1961 at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church in Hubbell.

Tom and Judy spent their first years of marriage living in the small mining village of Mason, Michigan, where Tom worked for the Quincy Mining Company. As the mining industry in that area neared its end, the young couple moved to Ontonagon, where Tom found employment at the local paper mill in the electrical department before eventually landing what he called "the best job in the world" as a field technician for the Ontonagon County Telephone Company, where he worked for several decades until his retirement in the early 2000s. His primary service area was the southern portion of Ontonagon County, where he was not only the "telephone man" but also a true friend to many of his customers and a staple at many of that area's diners.

Tom's zest for life led him toward several hobbies. He was an avid snowmobiler, and when he wasn't on his own sled he spent many late evenings ensuring the trails were in pristine condition for other riders with the trail groomer he built. His dedication to trail grooming in its early years earned him a place in one of the inaugural classes of the local snowmobile hall of fame.

Tom's greatest passion was sailing, and he spent many a summer evening enjoying the open water of Lake Superior aboard his 33-foot sailboat La Linda. Every July he'd take a multi-week vacation from work to sail, with many journeys to the Apostle Islands and several even further. When he wasn't on the water, he was near it, spending countless evenings at the shore of the Ontonagon River at the "Bait Shack," where he and several friends kept their boats and shared not only dock space but also plenty of tall tales and belly laughs.

Along with these two passions, Tom also enjoyed shooting and was a longtime member of the Lake Superior Sportsman's Club near Silver City, Michigan. He enjoyed deer hunting, dabbled in tractor restoration, was an avid reader of books about local, mining, political or military history. He embraced every opportunity to tackle a building or home improvement project, particularly those that involved his unique and budget-conscious engineering techniques. He was also a community-minded person, as he was elected to two terms on the Ontonagon Village Council and, as a devout member of Holy Family Catholic Church frequently served as a communion minister and usher.

While all of these activities were important to him, they were never as important as his family. He and Judy were blessed with three children, and they always prioritized supporting the kids in every activity they undertook; they continued that philosophy when they became grandparents as well.

Tom will be remembered fondly by his children, Lori (Jim) Sulkanen of Newnan, Georgia; Joe (Tracy Sorrels) of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Amy (Dave) Maki of Dollar Bay, Michigan. He's also survived by two granddaughters, Taryn and Kendall Maki; sisters Joanne Lacasse of Idaho and Suzanne Wright of Texas; and several nieces, nephews and in-law relatives, as well as his special friend Delores (Dory) Aho of Ontonagon, who came into Tom's life in the months after his wife's passing, and his beloved dog Zoey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Judy in April 2024.

A funeral service for Tom will take place Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service.

Cane Funeral Home of Ontonagon is assisting the family.