I'll miss ya Grandpa. I remember trout fishing the streams in Leelanau. Staying at fishers was always a fun time to. See you someday ENJOY Heaven!!!!!

 Posted by Jeremy Tobin - kentwood, MI May 11, 2008

Dear Gene, Ann & Family,
 Our sympathy to you in the home going of a dad, father-in-law and grandpa. Sorry we can't make it to the funeral home because of prior commitments. Our prayers are with all of you. Thanks be to God for His comfort and hope.
 In Christian Love,
 Ted & Carolyn

 Posted by Ted & Carolyn Peterson - Grand Rapids, MI May 11, 2008

I miss you so much Dad. I was very lucky to have you as my Father for so many years. I have many wonderful memories and I will see you in Heaven! Watch over me with Jesus, okay? I Love You with all my heart. You were the best Dad a daughter could have. We will take care of Mom....don't worry. Love and Hugs, Your daughter Debi

 Posted by Deb Geiger - Wyoming, MI June 13, 2008

I miss you more than words can say. Still, it is a comfort knowing that you are in a much better place with our Father in Heaven. I will never forget how you and Grandma loved and helped raised us. You were the best grandpa I could have asked for!! Love you so much, Grandpa. 
 Love, Allison

 Posted by Allison Trueblood - Killeen, TX June 15, 2008

Being the oldest grandchild I remember many things about grandpa. He was always so kind when I got to stay over night with him and grandma. I remember playing with grandpa and 'Candy' the family dog in the backyard, getting ice cream treats with grandpa from the passing ice cream truck on Perry St., having grandpa drop grandma and I off at the door every time we went to Wealthy Street Baptist Church together and the restaurant we would go to after churchsuch a gentleman. And mostly I will miss his kind good-byes when I would visit him and Grandma. He would always hug me and say,"Come over again real soon, OK?". I look forward to seeing him in Heaven and spending eternity together. Know Jesus Know Peace, No Jesus No peace.

 Posted by Roxanne Clark - Coopersville, MI June 17, 2008

Not a day goes by that I dont think of you and your kind ways. You were such a great care giver. I remember whenever I was sick and you and grandma would take care of me. You would come in to check on me late at night with a flashlight so you wouldnt have to turn on the light to wake me. I will miss our visits at Russ'. I will miss your sweet smiles and winks. I look forward to seeing you again in Heaven. Love you and miss you, Tricia

 Posted by Tricia Batchelder - Wyoming, MI June 18, 2008

I will always cherish our lunch at Russ's with Grandma, Aunt Liz, and my mom. Grandma and mom picked you up from Heartstone and we all met at Russ's. I loved watching you eat your burger, coffee and strawberry shortcake. We then went for a drive around Reed's lake. It was a beautiful and very special day that I will hold close to my heart forever. I will miss your smile and your winks too! I love you Grandpa and I will see you again in heaven.

 Posted by Kristi LeQuia - Wyoming, MI June 18, 2008

Dearest Dad, I have so many fond memories of you. I remember how when I visited you and Mom and when I left your house and it was dark out, you would always remind me to be sure and call you when I got home so you would know we made it safely home. I remember our picnics at Dutton Park and how you always wore your cute hat and got the portable stove going for coffee. Those and many others were such precious times together that I will never forget. I love you Dad. I can see your twinkling blues eyes looking down from heaven. Holding your memories dear in my heart until we meet in heaven, Love Liz.

 Posted by Liz Rockinger - Ada, MI June 20, 2008

Dear Precious Papa, It's been 6 weeks since you left us for your heavenly home. I'll always cherish the last weeks I had with you and all the love and tender moments we shared together. My heart will always hold a special place for you and I, too, look forward to seeing you again in heaven. Thanks for all your care and love, Papa. You are dearly missed, but I rejoice knowing you are with Jesus and all your loved ones already there. Keep my love with you always. Connie Marsh

 Posted by Connie Marsh - Wyoming, MI June 23, 2008

June 23, 2008
 Dear Precious Dad, What a blessing it was, dear Dad, to be chosen by God to care for you and Mom as you drew closer to Heaven. I am so thankful how good God was to all of us as he prepared us to let you go to him. I will cherish the special love, forgiveness,and sweet memories I have. I know you are all better now and that makes me so happy!
 Love and miss you dearly, Your "Bunny" daughter Bonnie
 I know I will see you again!

 Posted by Bonnie Stephens - Rockford, MI June 24, 2008

In memory of my Precious Phil,
 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again.
 You're in my heart forever.
 Lots of Hugs and Kisses. I love you and miss you.
 Your Sweetheart, Isabelle

 Posted by Isabelle Tobin - Kentwood, MI July 02, 2008

Here are a few of my favorite memories of our Grandpa Philip: Going to Wealthy Street Baptist Church then on to Meijer Thrifty Acres for Ice Cream when I was very young, many wonderful Christmas Eve's and how happy he was to receive a PEN from me as a gift, all the visits where he would be the best listener ever, and he had his own special way of asking just the right questions to get me talking. He was so sweet and had the most handsome smile. In his last days his wonderful sense of humor still shined brightly as he asked me for a kiss for each bite of food I wanted him to take. I will miss him until my special day arrives!

 Posted by Dawn Reed - Grand Rapids, MI July 10, 2008

Philip John Tobin
 Born
 November 06, 1918
 Died
 May 09, 2008
 
 REMEMBERING DAD
 By son Dan
 
 This morning it is an honor to share some of my thoughts with you as we remember my Dad.
 
 WORK 
 Dad was very proud of the 35 plus years that he worked for General Motors. Often when visiting him he would bring up the years he worked for GM. God blessed him with a good job and good health through the years so that he faithfully provided for the needs of Mom and 8 children. I remember Dad was always the last one to retire for the night and the first one to leave in the morning for work, well before the rest of us got up for the day. Many nights he would get only 5 to 6 hours of sleep without ever complaining. As children growing up, we always had everything we needed. Maybe not all of our wants, but always our needs were met. We never went to bed hungry, always had clothes to wear, and always had a place we called home. 
 
 Because of DadA�A�A�s example in the workplace we as his children grew up realizing the value of hard work. We knew that we would have to work for whatever we wanted in life, expecting no handouts. I remember the early morning paper routes that my brothers and I had. On Sundays when the papers were extra large, as they still are today, my dad would get up early with us before church and help us deliver our papers. He would take and place the bundles of papers at just the right spot along our routes so when we delivered the last paper in our bag, we had another bundle of papers waiting for us so we could reload our bags and continue on our way. Dad didnA�A�A�t just make us work, but was there to help us as we began to learn about work. 
 
 Thank you Dad for teaching us the value and importance of work. 
 
 FAMILY 
 To Dad, family was important. Some of my fondest memories of Dad were times spent with him, be it hunting together, out for breakfast or over to the house for a visit. I remember times we spent deer hunting with Dad over the years. It took us a long time to figure out why he had never bagged a buck. We accused him of firing off 3 warning shots whenever he saw a buck, and if the deer didnA�A�A�t hi-tail it out of thereA�A�A� he would fire off 3 more warning shots. This method proofed very effective over the years, as he never shot a deer! J For Dad, those hunting trips were not about getting a deer, but about spending times with his sons. 
 
 
 
 Dad loved having us stop over to the house. He always had time to sit and visit and loved putting on a pot of his coffee he called A�A�A�half and halfA�A�A?. I think that meant it was half regular and half decaf. I recall how Dad loved being remembered by his children on his birthday and fatherA�A�A�s day. He thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention on those special days! He would read over each card slowly and loved it when we underlined some of the words to place special emphasis on them! His special day was not complete until he heard from each and every one of his children.
 
 I remember as a child Dad taught us to respect mom. He would never stand for it if we talked back to her or were disrespectful. And God help us if we ever raised a hand to her. If I sassed mom or was disrespectful in any way while he was at work, I was in for more than a scolding when he got home! 
 
 Our family was a close knit family growing up, and we are still close today. We love each other and enjoy being together. I remember how close Dad was to his folks and siblings over the years. We had regular contact with my aunts and uncles as I was growing up. I think thatA�A�A�s why I felt a special closeness to them through the years. 
 
 Thanks Dad for teaching us the importance of family by your example. 
 
 FAITH 
 And lastly, it was while I was growing up at home that my spiritual journey began. At an early age God showed me my sinfulness and drew me unto himself. I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and his sacrificial death on the cross as payment in full for my sin.
 
 Thanks Dad, for providing a home environment where I came to know Christ. 
 
 DADA�A�A�S DYING For me personally it was difficult to come to the place of accepting that Dad was dying. I thought if we could just get him to eat and drink more, everything would be all right, not realizing that this was all part of his dementia and the dying process that had begun. When I finally came to a place of accepting that he was dying and letting him go, I was now free to enjoy and cherish the remaining time we had together. 
 
 When my wife, Susan, and I arrived at his room the morning of his passing, sure there were teary eyes and quiet weeping. But there was also a calm and peace in that room that surpassed human understanding. I realized that what we were experiencing was the promised Grace of God in our time of need. 
 
 Dad has departed this early life for his eternal home, but in a real sense he continues to live on through each one of us that his life has touched and influenced in some way. 
 
 THANK YOU 
 On behalf of our family we would like to express our heartfelt thanks especially to our brother Gene and sister Bonnie for their loving care to Dad and their careful attention to all of the details involved in his care as co-guardians. You have been a wonderful blessing to our family during these difficult days. We could not have done it without you and want you to know how much we love you and appreciate all of your hard work. You have been a special gift from God to our family as together we said goodbye to Dad.

 Posted by Dan Tobin - Hudsonville, MI July 11, 2008

OBITUARY

Philip John Tobin

6 November, 1918 – 9 May, 2008

Cook Funeral and Cremation Services

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