Thomas D. Shay, Sr.

Thomas Daniel Shay Sr., age 86 of Hobart, Indiana was granted eternal life on Thursday July 23, 2026. Tom was born on January 28, 1940 at St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital in Gary, IN to parents James Martin Shay and Magdelene (Thyen) Shay. He attended St. Mark’s Grade School in the Glen Park neighborhood of Gary and graduated from Lew Wallace High School in 1958 where he was a student athlete and varsity member of the baseball and basketball teams.

On February 4, 1961, Tom married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn (Kupka) Shay. They had four children and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage. Tom enjoyed maintaining his home and tending to his vegetable garden in Hobart, IN; playing golf with a retiree golf club twice a week; and spending time at his second home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was a family champion at many card games, he cheered relentlessly for his favorite sports teams including Notre Dame, the Chicago White Sox, and all of the other Chicago teams. Tom’s abundant love was evident in his family life. He was a man of faith, a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church, and a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. In the 1970’s, Tom was heavily involved in relocating the original Hobart Little League field to a new complex where he coached and mentored many young athletes. He also enjoyed coaching youth basketball.

Tom was a proud, third-generation steelworker with the United States Steel Corporation in Gary, IN where he was employed for 43 years. As a member of the United Steelworkers Union Local 1066, he served in many elected positions including Griever, Chairman of the Grievers, Financial Secretary, and delegate to national conventions; and was appointed to many joint labor management workplace improvement teams.

Tom loved life – but above all Tom was a family man. He enjoyed nothing more than family gatherings. His most noteworthy roles were husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Tom raised four children into adulthood. He was also an uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents James and Magdelene Shay; his brother James, and his sister Delores Crabb and her husband, Robert Crabb. Tom is survived by his loving wife Carolyn, his adult children Linda Shay, Diane Sirk and her husband Scott, Tom Shay Jr., and Pamela Shay; grand-children Kate Sirk-Bland and her husband Adam Bland, and their children Eleanor and Lincoln; Scott Thomas Sirk; and Michael Shay Sirk, his brother’s wife Linda Shay of Culver, Indiana; and his wife’s sister Shirley Bailey and her husband Richard Bailey of Marlton, New Jersey.

Funeral services are Friday, July 31, 2026, beginning with 10:30 a.m. prayers at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart and proceeding to St. Bridget Catholic Church, Hobart for an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial with Rev. Dominic V. Bertino officiating. Burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville. Visitation is Friday, July 31, 2026, just prior to the service from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart.