WALTER THOMAS REA

Walter Thomas “Tom” Rea, 75, of Hillman, passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 5, 2024, of an apparent heart attack.

He was born in Alpena on July 22, 1948, to the late Gerald and Amelia (Cadieux) Rea. After graduating from Hillman High School, he attended Eastern Michigan University where he played football for a time before transferring to Central Michigan University where he was a member of the TKE fraternity. Always one for an adventure at a young age he asked his brother to strap him to the windmill on their farm. In his younger years he loved to ride motorcross and ski on snow and water. He learned to scuba dive, bungee jump, skydiving and obtained his pilot’s license. Travel was something he loved and besides all around the U.S., he enjoyed hunting in Alaska, northwest territories of Canada and Colombia. He also traveled to India, Ireland and the Caribbean. Tom built subdivisions and cleared land to use the logs to build his own log cabin. He also dabbled in bar ownership. Most of his life work was spent in road construction working for various entities like Ann Arbor Construction, John Carlo, AJAX and his own Michigan Paving and Patching Industries. He retired as manager of the civil division for Structure Tech in 2023. On Aug. 15, 2009, he married Terry Shooks.

Tom enjoyed volunteering at the Hillman VFW and helping with the VJ Day parade. He was an avid Michigan football fan and season ticket holder for many years.

Surviving are his wife Terry, son, Damon (Kallena) Rea; daughter, Dana (Greg) Caldwell; stepson, Dillon Shooks; stepdaughter, Sara Shooks; grandchildren, Kylie, Layne, Noah, Asher; brothers, Jerry (Sally) Rea, Bob (Diane) Hunt; mother of his children, Krisanne Rea; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Walden Hunt.

Memorial visitation will take place on Monday at Caverly Episcopal Church from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at noon with the Rev. Bruce Michaud officiating. Cremation arrangements have been handled by the Bannan Funeral Home.

Memorials: Calvary Episcopal Church or Montmorency VFW Post 6754