Thomas Francis Curran, age 97 of Grand Rapids, passed away Monday, September 8, 2025. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 25,1927 to Francis Michael and Vivian Cecile (Michaels) Curran. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, as well as both younger siblings – Robert Joseph Curran and Vivian Therese Rowe, son-in-law Joseph C. Harlett (who he’s likely playing golf with right now), and niece Marjorie Rowe-Mann. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Patricia Ann (Hickey) Curran, children: Frank (Shelley) Curran, Mary Harlett, Dan (MaryJo) Curran, Jane (Mike) Smith, Tom Curran, Sue Curran, and Paul (Lisa Dienes) Curran. In addition to their seven children, Pat and Tom were blessed with 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Paul Rowe, two nephews, John (Lynn) Rowe and William Rowe, and his niece Jeanne Robbins.
Tom attended St. Stephen elementary and Catholic Central high schools and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He spent 18 months in the military. After college he was hired by General Motors, working at the Diesel Equipment Plant in Grand Rapids until his retirement at age 58. Not one to be idle, he and his friend Ernie Bader started SCM Consulting business, where they introduced powdered metal products to the auto industry.
An avid golfer and bowler with numerous trophies attesting to his skills, he was also a DIYer. Those skills came in handy when they purchased a roughed-in cottage on Gun Lake that he and his brother finished, where large gatherings frequently exceeded the capacity of the small cabin. Following his second retirement, he dusted off his high school clarinet and joined the New Horizons band, playing around town with them for several years. He was one of the biggest University of Michigan football fans on the planet and we’re sure he will be looking down happily on us all on football Saturdays. A life-long member of St. Stephen Parish in East Grand Rapids, he was a ‘go-to’ guy who always ‘knew a guy’ to fix any building issues that arose.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to Salvation Army, 1215 E. Fulton St. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or The American Legion, www.legion.org