Thomas M. Voytal

Thomas M. Voytal, age 77, longtime resident of Northville, formerly of Albion and Atlanta, GA passed away October 23, 2023. He was born on July 22, 1946, in Hamtramck, Michigan; son of John and Corinne (Ban) Voytal. He was united in marriage to Kimberly Campbell on May 21, 1977 and spent 46 years lovingly devoted to one another.

Thomas graduated from Clawson High School in the class of 1964.  Following high school, he attended Michigan State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business. Thomas was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War serving one of his two years at Long Binh Army Base. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended Grace Hospital School of Nursing where he became a registered nurse.

Thomas began his nursing career in the operating room at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit. He also worked both at Albion Community Hospital and at  Jackson Prison Hospital at as a nursing supervisor. Most of his nursing career was spent as a pediatric operating room nurse at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital where he worked for over 20 years before retiring in 2011. He was a great friend and was often called upon to administer first aid to his friends’ kids who were injured. His calming presence that was so prevalent in the operating room always helped put the parents at ease.

Thomas was a skilled guitarist. He shared his talent with family and friends, often playing at their events and celebrations. At home, he was always
singing and playing guitar for whoever was around, but his favorite audience was his children and grandchildren. Tom loved to tell limericks and  jokes and never missed an opportunity to share these at celebrations and get-togethers with friends. Tom was known for his vegetable gardening and sharing his produce with friends and neighbors, especially the abundance of tomatoes he always had. He was a member of Detroit Yacht Club where he served as past swim team chair. Tom loved Northville; he liked the small town feel and being part of the downtown. He was one of the first tree advocates in the City of Northville working to catalog and preserve Northville’s legacy trees. He also spent time gardening in the community garden in the township. Tom was a beloved husband, father, papa, brother, and friend and he will be missed by all who loved him.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly Campbell-Voytal; his children, Leah Gress and Drew (Rebecca Kinney) Voytal; his grandchildren, Campbell Gress and Zachary Voytal; his siblings, Susan Voytal, Michael (Mary) Voytal, and John Voytal; his mother-in-law, Barbara Campbell; his brother-in-law, Douglas (Christy) Campbell; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial Visitation will be held Friday, October 27, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. - Noon with a Memorial Service at Noon at the First United Methodist Church, 777 West 8 Mile Road, Northville. Rev. Marsha Woolley will officiate the service. Thomas will be laid to rest at Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorial contributions to JDRF , 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281 or C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Diabetes Gift Fund #337686 c/o Michigan Medicine Office of Development, 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.