Mr. Tom Green, age 87, of Cedar Springs, our loved one, peacefully left us on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, after a courageous ten year struggle with COPD. He grew up in Harrisville, MI on Lake Huron. Tom’s parents were the owners of a meat market and grocery store. Tom often told stories about “snitching” candy but admitted that his dad probably knew and looked the other way. He was a 1941 graduate of Harrisville High School where he participated in sports. Tom served in the US Army during WWII. After the service, he moved back to Harrisville and then to Cedar Springs where he worked with his brother in the propane business. Tom sold the business and then worked for many years as a painter at Blockcraft. After Blockcraft closed, Tom and George Hunting operated Rockford Body Shop until 1987. The body shop located on Bridge Street became one of the first stores of the Squire Street shopping area in Rockford. On Farmer’s Day, which is now known as Red Flannel Day, Tom and Carolyn worked the Bingo Stand and Carolyn won the prize. Six months later, on March 2, 1947 and also the date of Carolyn’s parents 25th Wedding Anniversary, Tom and Carolyn were married (during a blizzard) at Cedar Springs Baptist Church by Pastor Hollis Tiffany. For entertainment, they went to Carolyn’s family farm for Sunday dinner. They also enjoyed camping out of their station wagon. Tom always had a second job for extra money. He was a volunteer fire fighter, a reserve police officer, served on the Cedar Springs City Council, and was a paid-on-call member of Rockford Ambulance Service. Over and above all of these duties, Tom was there for his family who considered him the #1 Best Dad. He took his daughters hunting and was “beaming with pride” when with his grandchildren. Tom enjoyed being with his family, especially the times with his extended family at the lake. He lived a quiet life with those he loved. He was a member of the Glenn Hill Post #287 American Legion. Tom is survived by his loving wife, the former Carolyn Gillette whom he married nearly 65 years ago; children, Patricia and Phil Cranney of Morley, Holly and Jack Frey of Sand Lake, and Sherry Williams of Rockford; five grandchildren, Chad Cranney, Dirk Cranney and Nicole Sabin, Nicole and Mark Robinson, Tom and Krista Frey, and Wade Green and his fiancee, Elizabeth Saynor; eight great-grandchildren, Katelynn, Brooke, Sophia, Gage, Erika, Lane, Luke, and Ethan; his great-great-grandson, Ronan; brother, Donald Green; nieces and nephews; and his cherished companion, Hogan. The service for Mr. Green was be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Pederson Funeral Home with Fr. John Kirkman officiating. Military honors were under the auspices of the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the COPD Foundation, 2937 SW 27th Ave., Ste. 302, Miami, FL 33133 or AMDF, American Macular Degeneration Foundation, PO Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515. Relatives and friends met with the family at the funeral home on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Arrangements by The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com