Thomas John Avers passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning, March 25, 2026, at Fulton County Health Center. He was born March 18, 1961, in Wauseon, Ohio, to Ray and Leta (Blausey) Avers of Archbold.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Martin Lutheran Church in Archbold, where he was an active member. He graduated from Archbold High School in 1979.
As a teen, Tom worked at a local farm, Bernath’s SuperValu, Lange’s Bakery, and Sohio gas station. In 1980, he began working at Sauder Woodworking Company, where he held a variety of positions on and off the production floor, most recently in master data.
While employed, he attended Northwest Technical College and graduated May 15, 1986, with an Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology.
In November 1994, Tom’s sister-in-law, Angie Avers, set him up on a blind date with Brenda Kaiser of Edon, Ohio. The two hit it off, having much in common. They were married Oct. 21, 1995. The couple had two daughters, Andrea and Eliza. His wife and daughters were the greatest joys of Tom’s life.
Tom loved camping in his RV, traveling around the U.S., and planning family vacations. His travels extended from Maine to Florida to Utah and many places in between. He especially loved camping in Ohio and Michigan state parks.
One of Tom’s hobbies was spending time in his workshop building bookcases, shelves, hall trees, and toys when his daughters were young.
He could build and repair anything and always had projects to do around the house. In retirement, he enjoyed reading nonfiction and traveling to Florida in the winter with his wife.
Tom was a faithful attendant of his church. Over the years, he served on church council and the endowment team. He put his woodworking talents to use for the church by building cabinets for the church office.
As a young adult, Tom and his dad helped with property upkeep, including working on the church steeple.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda; daughters Andrea Avers and Eliza Avers, Archbold; mother, Leta; sister Carolyn (Paul) Ruwe of Gainesville, Va.; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Ray; and brother, Dan.
Visitation and memorial service will be held at St. Martin Lutheran Church, with visitation Tuesday, March 31, from 3-7 p.m. and memorial service Wednesday, April 1, at 11 a.m., with a meal to follow.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials can be given to St. Martin Lutheran Church or the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).