LTC (Ret) Thomas Edward Michael ("Tom") Stelmar Sr., age 87, of Rockwall, TX, passed away on November 5, 2024. He was born on September 2, 1937, in Elmira, NY, to Michael Stelmar and Veronica (Kamas) Cicconi.

Tom married Ellen Marie Hajos in Schuylerville, NY on February 4, 1961 and they were married for 59 years before her death in 2020.

Tom graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Elmira Heights, NY in June 1955 and immediately joined the United States Air Force. He discharged after a 4-year enlistment and worked briefly for the State of New York. He re-entered the Air Force that same year as an Aviation Cadet and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1960. Tom was a Master Navigator and an Electronic Warfare Officer, flying the RB-66C, B-58, KC-135, and RC-135. He became an Intelligence Officer in 1975 and retired in 1983 as a Chief of Intelligence at HQ USAF in Washington, D.C.

Tom was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and The Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. His duty stations included Sampson AFB, NY; Shepard AFB, TX; Yamato AB, Japan; Stewart AFB, NY; Lackland AFB, TX; Harlingen AFB, TX; Keesler AFB, MS; Shaw AFB, SC; Grissom AFB, IN; Carswell AFB, TX; Mather AFB, CA; Little Rock AFB, AR; Plattsburgh AFB, NY; Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan; Offutt AFB, NE; and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Tom held a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Albuquerque and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

After his military retirement, Tom worked in International Marketing for a U.S. Defense Contractor for 7 years and then began working for the Knights of Columbus Insurance Agency, retiring again in 2016.

A Knight of Columbus since 1980, S.K. Tom Stelmar was the Charter Faithful Navigator of the Mother Teresa Assembly, past Field Agent for the Regan Agency, and a current member of St. Michael the Archangel Council 11862 in Garland, Texas.

As featured in the Knights of Columbus magazine, they said, "Tom truly left his mark on the Knights of Columbus. He helped charter a number of new councils over the years and served as grand knight, district deputy and faithful navigator. Over the past four decades, he held numerous leadership positions at the local level, but his biggest legacy was in recruiting over 1,000 members to the Order — multiplying charity and helping to build up the Church."

Tom is survived by his children Stacy Stelmar-Cuzick; Thomas Stelmar, Jr. and wife Tracy; grandchildren Sara Elizabeth Cuzick-Shira and wife Lindsey; Emily Marie Cuzick and husband Josh Rippy; Marissa Helen Cuzick Geringer and husband Tyler; Thomas Edward Stelmar III; and John William (Jack) Stelmar; brother- and sister-in-law Chuck and Anne Cadwallader; sister-in-law Margaret Hajos; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ellen Stelmar, his parents, his stepfather Henry J. Cicconi, and son-in-law Floyd Dean Cuzick, Jr.

A gathering of family and friends will take place at Rest Haven Funeral Home - Rockwall location on Thursday, November 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm with a Rosary at 6:45 pm. Funeral Mass will be said on Friday, November 15th at 10 am at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 950 Trails Parkway, Garland, TX 75043 with interment at Rest Haven Rockwall at 11:30 am. A funeral reception will follow at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church at 12:30 pm.