Thomas Leo Schrenk

Thomas Leo Schrenk, loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and dear friend to many, passed away peacefully at his home in Avondale, Pennsylvania on February 7, 2025, with his wife Gail by his side.  Tom was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania to the late Edward Lawrence Schrenk and Marian Feeney Schrenk.  He was twice married, first to his high school sweetheart, Gertrude Sheedy, who preceded him in death on January 19, 2004, then to Gail Gawel, whom he married on September 9, 2006.

Along with his wife, Gail, Tom is survived by his brother, Edward (Joan) Schrenk of San Antonio, TX;  his children: Kathleen (Bud) Zappitelli of New Albany, OH, Ann (Scott) Vogt of Oak Park, IL, Christine (Danny) Eddy of Greensboro, NC; grandchildren: Tommy (Brittany), Maddie, Jack, Gabi, Geno, Dominic, Camille, Will, Rachel, and Jacob; many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

After graduating from Altoona Catholic High School in 1959, Tom attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 1963 with degrees in chemical engineering and literature.  Tom then began a 35 plus year career with the DuPont Company in Niagara Falls, NY.  He ended his career as a consultant with the Accenture Group for four years. His tenure with DuPont moved him and his family every few years, which resulted in many lifelong friendships made in New York, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Always wanting to explore new parts of the country, Tom planned many adventurous family vacations through the years. His friends and relatives remember him as always being up for a party, with ingredients for Manhattans always on hand. All who knew him also knew to never call him on a Fall football Saturday when his beloved Fighting Irish were playing.

Even as a polio survivor, Tom enjoyed staying active, skiing while in his 70’s and playing tennis with his Tuesday night group until he was 80. After retiring, Tom spent a lot of time on the golf course, traveled internationally with Gail, visited friends and family around the country, and spent time in Naples, Florida during winter months for 13 years.  His grandchildren still talk about many holidays spent at “the basement house” and vacations visiting Papa at the Ocean Pines beach house are full of fond memories, especially the highly anticipated dessert tray. 

Tom spent time volunteering at various agencies and organizations in the area.  He worked annually helping prepare the Celebrity Chef’s Brunch for Meals on Wheels – Delaware, enjoyed learning about wild birds while serving as a transporter taking injured birds to a TriState Bird Rescue and Research site in Delaware, and loved meeting people and sharing his humor while serving as a hospitality volunteer at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 29th, 2025 beginning at 12PM at Hartefeld National Golf Club, Avondale, PA.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to:

Meals on Wheels – Delaware, 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 207, Wilmington, DE 19801

OR

ACHS Class of 1959 Named Scholarship Fund in memory of Tom Schrenk, c/o Lisa Georgiana Director of Advancement, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 2400 Pleasant Valley Blvd, Altoona, PA 16602.

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