April 19, 1944  —  March 29, 2014

Thomas R. Fette, 69, of St. Joseph, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Saturday, March 29, 2014.

A celebration of life service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2014, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2001 Niles Ave. St. Joseph with Rev. Dr. Robert Braman officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.

Friends may visit from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, or the St. Joseph Public Library. Those wishing to sign Tom’s guestbook may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Tom was born April 19, 1944, in South Bend, Ind. to Don and Bette (Short) Fette. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1962. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1966 and his Juris Doctor in 1969.

Tom went on to work as an attorney in St. Joseph for 45 years.

On May 18, 1968, he wed Nancy Sinkowski. He was a member and past president of the Berrien County Bar Association, a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, a fellow of the State Bar Association Foundation and a member of the federal bar.

Tom was an exceptional athlete. He was inducted into the St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame in 1989, was an All-American high school football player, and went on to play football at the University of Michigan.

He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Nancy Fette; children Michael (Wendy) Fette of Chicago, Ill., Daniel (Jessica) Fette of Benton Harbor, and Mary (Steven) Soorus of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren Willa, Jem, Emilia and Harper; brother Bill (Jane) Fette of Kalamazoo; sister Betsy (Al) Skibbe of St. Joseph; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.