Thomas E. Quirk

Thomas E. Quirk, 97, passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2022 in Fort Wayne, IN. Born “Eugene Thomas Quirk” in Lawler, IA on April 15, 1925, Tom was the second eldest of William & Marie Quirk’s five sons. He attended Mt. Carmel Grade School & Lawler High School where his love of basketball & baseball became a part of him. He attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (1949) & Law degree (1951). His professional career started as an insurance adjuster with State Farm in Dubuque, IA. In 1953, Tom opted to use his Law degree in Trust & Tax law with the Fort Wayne National Bank Trust Department. In 1955, he married Louise Anne Lynch, with whom he shared 60 wonderful years of love & laughter. In 1990, after having a 38 year career with the bank, he retired as Executive Vice President of the Trust Department. Throughout his life Tom gave back to the Fort Wayne Community in many ways. Tom served as a Trustee of the Allen County Bar Association, President of Estate Planning Council, Fort Wayne Airport Authority, FTW Planning Commission, Catholic Charities Board, Indiana Newman Foundation, President/Member Serra Club, Quest Club President & Member, NE Indiana Catholic School Board, Member & Chairman of Trust & Indiana Bankers Association, Director & then President of St. Joe Hospital Board for 7 years, Board Member of St. Joe Hospital Foundation, Director of Wilson Foundation, Finance Committee Member of the Ancilla Domini Sisters in Donnelly, IN, Fort Wayne Park Foundation board member for over 40 years, serving a term as President. Tom also served other various organizations where he shared his time & talent. He was a proud and loyal alumnus of the University of Iowa. He loved Hawkeye football and basketball. What he loved most, besides the educational opportunity, was the friendships he made & the fun he had while attending Iowa. He also loved the Chicago Cubs & White Sox. He watched thousands of Cub games with his family on WGN, attended games at Wrigley & Comiskey. Like so many suffering Cub fans, he especially enjoyed the triumphant 2016 season, blessed at age 91 to finally watch, for the first time in his life, the Cubbies winning the World Series. With an athletic past as a youngster, during his working years and through age 70 he loved playing racquetball at the downtown YMCA, then in his later years he enjoyed golf at the Fort Wayne Country Club. Tom enjoyed keeping abreast of local & national events, politics & financial matters. He would always share stories of Iowa to anyone who wanted to listen. He was amazed that a young man from Utica Township could have such a complete life. He never forgot the Iowa family farm & stories about his family roots. Tom and Louise, both having grown up during the depression, were proud to have been able to raise four children, emphasizing the importance of education putting them all through Catholic Education & College, while saving enough to buy a lake cottage on Big Cedar Lake/Tri-Lakes in 1971, & in 1988 on Oliver Lake in LaGrange. The legacy of gathering at “the lake”, has made a lifetime of memories for family & friends. We have laughed, shared wonderful meals & conversations & now get to see the next generation enjoy the gift of the lake thanks to our parents. His love of the little things in life ultimately carried him through. Dahlias, the burnt edges of toast, homemade cinnamon rolls, walks through the yard, white wine, and skeptical conversations about politics with his grandkids which kept him young. Tom “Bud” Quirk will be missed greatly by his children; Sarah Quirk of Grand Rapids, MI, Michael (Carol) Quirk of Fort Wayne, IN, Jeremy (Elaine) Quirk of Benton Harbor, MI, and Amy (Bill) Ziegert, of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Emily (Zack) Winchester, James (Katie) Quirk, Hailey Ziegert-King, Will Ziegert; Great Grandchildren, Isaac & Oliver Winchester, Riley & Charlotte King, Owen, Hayden & Nolan Quirk; his brother, Frank (Dorothy) Quirk; The Villages, FL; and by many, many nieces & nephews. Special thanks to Erin Long for keeping him physically fit & sharing your family, Covington Springs for the great individual care, Elios Hospice for keeping him comfortable, and to the many friends & colleagues who visited. All of you made an imprint on his life. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Louise Anne (Lynch); brothers, William, Robert, Lowell; and a sister who died in infancy. In Lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities or St. Vincent de Paul. A mass in memory of Tom will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1101 Lafayette Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Quirk family may be left at www.greenlawnmpfh.com.