Obituary: Thomas Charles Gmuer, 69, of Southbury

Information via Carpino Funeral Home, Southbury

Southbury-- Thomas Charles Gmuer, 69, died peacefully Saturday, October 15, 2016 at home, with his beloved family by his side, after a heroic and courageous battle with cancer. He was the loving husband and soulmate of Patricia Kleiber Gmuer.

Tom was born February 12, 1947, in Bronx, New York, the son of the late Frederick and Jeanette (Godwin) Gmuer. He was a graduate of Southbury High School and Waterbury Technical College, where he earned his electrical engineering degree.

He served in the U.S. Army, Battery C, 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery as a SP4. Tom was a Military Police and an expert marksman, stationed in Quirnheim, Germany, where he guarded the U.S. Nike Hercules missile system.

He was employed as a Product Engineer for Superior Electric for 49 years—a company he loved—until the cancer attacked his spine and he was no longer able to walk. Along with his daughter, he was a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Southbury.

Tom’s greatest love and pleasure was his family and being in his home. He cherished his family and was an incredible provider, always concerned about everyone but himself. Tom was an honest and quiet man who did not like to be the center of attention. He cared deeply for his friends, whom he truly appreciated. The greatest joys of his life were walking his daughter, Brittany, down the aisle with a cane and being present at the birth of his grandson, Landon.

He loved spending time with his grandson, riding his motorcycle, working on his laptop, family vacations to Ocean City, MD and Disney World, playing cards and Five Crowns with his family and friends, watching Westerns and Classic movies, and his “favorite” niece

Besides his wife of 33 years, he leaves his daughter, Brittany Massaro and her husband, Mike, of Thomaston; his grandson, Landon Massaro, who was the love of his life; his sister, Loretta Gmuer of Danbury; his brother, William Gmuer and his wife, Lori, of Southbury; his mother-in-law, Ann Kleiber of Towson, Maryland; his brother-in-laws, Lawrence Kleiber and William Tang, of New York, New York; 7 nieces and nephews; 14 grand nieces and nephews; and Emma Huebenthal, whom he loved like a daughter.

He was predeceased by his infant daughter, Heather Leigh Mary Gmuer; his brother, Frederick Gmuer; his sister-in-law, Susan (Resner) Gmuer; and his father-in-law, Charles John Kleiber.

Tom’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of the incredible caregivers at Regional Hospice and Home Care of Connecticut for their outstanding medical care and compassion during Tom’s final days in hospice.

Friends and family are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, Oct. 28th at 10:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, followed by a reception in the church hall. No calling hours. Arrangements are by Carpino Funeral Home, Southbury.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.