Tad entered this world in June 1933, a Great Depression baby. Growing up in the north end of Grand Rapids he spent most of his time playing sandlot football, basketball, and baseball. He also loved taking long hikes and climbing trees; he was a happy child who was popular with his friends and classmates. He attended Aberdeen Elementary School and later graduated from Creston High School in 1951. His favorite sport while in high school was football and the team had a losing season, he was honorably mentioned on the Grand Rapids Press All City Football team in 1950.
While in high school Tad became interested in trout fishing and tying flies. It would become a lifelong pastime. He owned property for over 60 years on the Little Manistee River, and with his family and friends spent many happy times.
Prior to graduation from MSU he spent over a year in Germany assigned to the 70th Combat Engineer Battalion. During his tour of duty, he was awarded “Soldier of the Month” for his outstanding job performance. He also won a post wide writing contest. In 1959 two wonderful events happened to Tad… he married his wife Dianne and he caught what turned out to be one of the biggest brown trout ever caught in the Little Manistee River. The fish was caught on one of Tad’s dry flies. It was just under ten pounds and measured almost 30 inches long. The big fish was mounted and still hangs on the wall above Tad’s fly-tying bench. Dianne used to call it “Tad’s Shrine.” He was a long-time member of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishermen.
Tad joined American Seating in the early 1960’s and spent 25 years in various sales assignments, 9 years of which were in California. He compiled an outstanding sales record and was returned to Grand Rapids where he became a regional sales manager. He left American Seating to become the national sales manager for Irwin Seating’s Classroom Products. He was instrumental in the purchase of the American Seating classroom product line, and with the distributors that he established, Irwin became the premier classroom furniture product line in the United States.
Tad enjoyed collecting wood carvings and had an extensive collection of frogs, fish, and wildlife birds. He was fond of reading the poetry of Robert Frost and Robert Service. He also enjoyed the writing of Roderick Haig-Brown and Ernest Hemingway. In the spring and summer months Tad enjoyed growing flowers and his cabin was surrounded by many lovely plants…. It was beautiful indeed! Tad was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Dianne; his parents, George and Mildred Lane; brother, Jack Lane. He is survived by his sons Tim (Kathy), Mark (Kathy) and grandsons George and David, granddaughter Amanda Stetar (Jeff) and three lovely great-grandchildren. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, November 29, 2024, at St. Robert of Newminster Catholic Church, 6477 Ada Dr SE, Ada, MI 49301, with visitation one hour prior. Interment Martin Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Michigan Lakes & Streams Association, PO Box 19615 Kalamazoo, MI 49019.