Thomas Peter Taskey
CHATHAM, MI – Thomas Peter Taskey, age 74, of Chatham, died Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at UPHS Marquette surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 19, 1952 in Newberry, Michigan to the late Raymond and Mary Taskey. Tom grew up in Traunik and graduated from Eben High School in 1970. He married his high school sweetheart Elaine Marie Nelson on June 24, 1972 and together they raised their two children. Tom worked multiple jobs, starting in the logging business. He worked at Wicks lumber, as a gas truck driver, and finally retiring from the Empire and Tilden Mine after 25 years. Tom and Elaine then bought the Chatham laundry. During the time they owned it Tom, always the businessman decided Chatham needed a car wash and when he set his mind to something it was going to happen. They ran the Chatham Laundry and Car Wash for many years before selling.
Tom loved to talk. He didn’t care who you were or where you were from, he would find something to talk to you about. In retirement, Tom would bartend at the New Moon, where he continued to talk with friends and tourist (who would often come back years later and ask for Tom). It was at the Moon where he learned about everything that was happening around town. He enjoyed hunting, watching Gunsmoke, and mowing his yard. Tom was a junk food junkie; he loved his chips and sweets. He enjoyed going for rides with Elaine and Alice to get in some good people watching, and while they did some shopping, they would find him on the bench at Walmart with bag of candy talking to someone he knew or just met. Tom was willing to help anyone he could. He was woken in the middle of the night once by a phone call from his daughter-in-law saying “Tom, I need your help, there is a fire at our house!” he replied, “I am on my way! But who is this?” It didn’t matter who you were, he was willing to jump in and help. He will be missed by so many. Tom’s entire life revolved around his wife, his kids and family making sure they had everything they needed.
Tom is survived by his wife of fifty-three years – Elaine Taskey; daughter – Heather (Pat) Beckwith; daughter-in-law – Kurston (Zach) Hall; sisters-in-law – Rosalee Taskey, Judy Taskey, Alice (Buck) Lancour, Kathy (Tony) Knaus, and Martha (Frank) Inman; and numerous nieces and nephews that he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Justin Taskey, brothers Dick and Raymond Taskey, Jr, and his parents in law – Richard and Mary Nelson.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the New Moon in Eben. Friends and family will gather for a service starting at 2:00 p.m. with visiting and stories to continue until 6:00 p.m. Tom’s obituary and online guestbook may be viewed and signed at bowermanfuneralhome.net