Thomas Schock
Dad, grampa, husband, brother, friend. Thomas J Schock will be greatly missed by many.
TJ, as he was known as by many, was born on January 28th, 1939, in Billings, MT, to Claribel and Erwin Schock. He was the youngest of four, spending many great years with brothers Elsworth and Swede Schock, as well as sister Freida Mae. TJ graduated in the 1957 class from Billings Senior High. He joined the military as a young man in 1962, where he was an Armor Tank crewman for the US Army. TJ married Shirley Sheldon in 1965 and they enjoyed 41 years of marriage together before he lost the love of his life to serious illness in 2006.
As a young man TJ enjoyed spending time with friends and getting into things they probably shouldn’t have. Until the end he spoke very highly of many friends that had an impact on him and gave him some great stories. TJ had many jobs he enjoyed, from owning a gas station with brother Swede to working in the rendering facilities at Midland packing. With help from his brothers and father, he built a house for him and his wife along with kids to enjoy, where he would spend the rest of his days. TJ loved working, and always did as much as he could even in his last days. He loved to improve the house as well as woodwork in his basement shop along with masonry work all along the house. He spent many long days fishing, hunting, working cows, and tending to his garden, just overall enjoying the outdoors. He enjoyed teaching life lessons that many family members will hold onto dearly. In his last few years he enjoyed being a dad to beloved dog Tucker who he took with him everywhere, and if you ask him, may or may not have spoiled him. He enjoyed going down to Montana Lil’s to play keno games and visit with his girls there, as well as bring Tucker for everyone’s enjoyment. TJ enjoyed spending time with his loved ones as well as many friends. He enjoyed family dinners, some of his favorites being pizza from Papa Murphy’s and chicken from the Play Inn. Many people got to know TJ in his 81 years here. On his walks up the road with Tucker he talked and got close to many neighbors often times being known as the neighborhood informant.
TJ will be missed by many; we are so thankful for his time here, sharing stories and teaching lessons. TJ is survived by siblings Swede (Barbara) Schock, of Helena, son Kenneth (Kim) Cable-Schock, of Billings, daughters Kori (Tim) Reilly of Elyria, Ohio, and Kimberly (Jeremiah) Sindelar-Thompson of Billings. He will be missed by grandchildren, Frankie, daughter of Kim and Frank, Jillian daughter of Jeremiah, Seely daughter of Kenny, Michael (Amanda), Jeffery, and Amanda (John) children of Kori and Tim as well as greatgrandchildren Edie daughter of Amanda and John Magargal, and Jackson son of Michael and Amanda Reilly. He will also be missed dearly by loved son and dog, Tucker as well as many cousins and friends. In leaving us he is welcomed into heaven by wife Shirley, mother Claribel, father Erwin C. Schock, brother Elsworth “Lou” Schock, and sister Freida Mae Schock.
Services will be a burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens, on Wednesday, September 23rd at 2 pm. Following will be a get together enjoying TJ’s favorite Play Inn Chicken at 633 Sindelar Rd. to celebrate his life. Condolences may be shared with the family at smithfuneralchapels.com.
