Thomas Henry Aker, 62

Thomas Henry Aker was born at home in Cuba, N.M., in 1947. He grew up working and playing hard as the youngest of four children. After graduating from high school in St. Maries, he was drafted into the military where he served in the Vietnam war. Upon returning to Idaho he married Christine Wheeler and together they raised two daughters, Chris Ann and Andrea, in Rathdrum. He raised his family to love God and became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in his late 30s.

Tom worked as a logger for many years but after a severe logging accident he started his own business and ran that for a decade. Among other things, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and taking road-trips.

Once their kids were raised, he and Chris decided to move to Hawaii in 1998. They moved to the Big Island and quickly adapted to their new way of life. He loved to beach comb, SCUBA dive and especially to go fishing. His employment centered at first around handyman work, and later, construction.

Tom and Chris became grandparents for the first time in 2003 with the birth of Logan Misbach and have since added Kanoelani and Mahealani Sills and Tessa Misbach. Tom loved being a grandfather and they loved their “Papa.” 

Tom was a generous man who worked hard and had a special talent for knowing what people needed and how best to help them. He could build or fix anything. He had an amazingly positive attitude and rarely worried about anything. He earned a large network of friends who enjoyed his jovial, outgoing, generous personality. He will be missed by many. 

Tom died at home on July 6, 2010, after battling cancer. He had the blessing of being surrounded by family and friends for the months leading up to his death.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, and daughters Chris Ann Sills (Kristof), Andrea Misbach (Lyle); his four grandchildren; his mother, Virginia Aker and siblings, James Aker, Lois Donahoe, Francis Johnson and many nieces and nephews. 

Services will be held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.