Thomas G. Vanden Bosch

Mr. Thomas (Tom) G. Vanden Bosch, age 84, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was born on November 24, 1941, at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, and he passed away on March 29, 2026, at Trinity Health St. Mary’s Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids after a short illness. He will be deeply missed by his family, including his sons, Matthew, Joseph, and Benjamin, and his step-daughters, Wendy and Debora.

Tom was the son of George J. Vanden Bosch and Betty (Budding) Vanden Bosch. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald C. Vanden Bosch. He is survived by his sons, Matthew (Neda) Vanden Bosch, Joseph Vanden Bosch, and Benjamin Vanden Bosch; and by his step-daughters, Wendy (Mark) Rode and Debora Verdier. He was blessed with several grandchildren, including Cyrus (Noelle) Vanden Bosch and Sarah Vanden Bosch, Jack and Alexa Vanden Bosch, MacKenzie (Cody) Scheidel, Danielle (Nick) Szukhent, and Harley Rode, and one great grandchild, Bindi Lou Scheidel. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and dear friends.

Tom graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1959 and went on to attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating in 1963. He later earned his law degree from Wayne State University Law School, graduating in 1966. Tom enjoyed a long and respected career as an attorney, practicing law in Grand Rapids for many years, most of those alongside his long-time law partner and friend, Craig Avery. The two shared not only a law practice but a daily lunchtime rummy game, a tradition they kept for many years. Tom was known for his integrity, his careful thoughtfulness, and his dedication to the people he served.

On October 10, 1981 Tom married Kathleen (Kathy) Elizabeth Newman, and they shared 42 years of marriage until her death in May 2023. Together, they built a life filled with family, faith, hard work, and adventure.

Tom was also a lifelong sailor. Prior to their retirement in 1988, Tom and Kathy enjoyed several summers sailing Lake Michigan on their sailboat, Vixen. Following their retirement in 1988, they embarked on an extended sailing adventure on Vixen—a trip that took them around the Michigan lakes, out the St. Lawrence Seaway, down the East Coast, and on to the Bahamas. After three years of living aboard, they returned to the Grand Rapids area to work for a few years and to begin work on a larger boat they named “Island Betty,” after their mothers, Betty Newman and Betty Vanden Bosch. After cruising the Caribbean on Island Betty, Tom and Kathy later returned to Florida to continue their retirement. They eventually returned to Michigan to spend more time with their grandchildren, while continuing to spend their winters in Florida, always staying close to the water they loved.

In addition to sailing, Tom loved maps and navigation; he took great pleasure in planning routes, studying charts, and understanding the waters he traveled. During his retirement, he also served as a ferry boat captain in Port Charlotte, Florida, a role that combined his skill on the water with his enjoyment of meeting people. He was steady and thoughtful, with a quiet sense of humor, and he found great joy in time spent with his children and grandchildren, some of whom called him “Boppy.”

Tom and Kathy routinely volunteered at God’s Kitchen in the Heartside Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. They attended weekly services at First (Park) Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, where they found a caring community and meaningful worship.

A service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at First (Park) Congregational Church in Grand Rapids on May 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. There will be a reception at the church to follow.  The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Tom’s name to:

Park Church – Memorial Contribution –Online Giving – Park Church
God’s Kitchen - Donate | CATHOLIC CHARITIES WEST MICHIGAN

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