Obituary
Thomas A. Janes, (Tom) 83 of Corona, CA (formerly Indianapolis, IN) passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025, at his home in the loving care of his daughter, Nichole, and his granddaughters.
Tom was born in Rockford, IL, and is the third of five children of H. Arthur Janes and Lillian Floreen Herndon Janes. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Dawn Ellen Janes Mercer and Patricia Ann Janes Clendenin, and first wife: Constance Ann Collins Matas. He is survived by two siblings: Richard Janes and Catherine Janes High, his three children: Thomas Janes Jr, Nichole Janes Dennis and Dustin Janes (spouse, Lauren Hinkle Janes), his five grandchildren: Lillian Dennis, Audra Dennis, Gwendolyn Dennis, Daphne Janes & Theodore Janes, ex-wives: Margaretha Hack Janes and Kathleen March Janes, his step-children & grandchildren: Robin Detrude, Kristen Gardner and Brittney Gardner Paterson (spouse, Steve Paterson), Ruby Paterson, Lucy Paterson and Finley Paterson, two nieces, six nephews and his golden retriever: Gus.
His family moved from Rockford, IL, to Indianapolis, IN, in 1948. He graduated from North Central High School in 1962. After high school he attended Ball State University, and later enrolled in the Army where he was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. He served in a combat deployment to the Dominican Republic quelling an uprising in Santa Domingo. After the military, he spent several years traveling, exploring and adventuring with his brother, Rick, where they worked as heavy equipment operators cutting the new ski trails at Steamboat Springs Colorado. This bought out his inner cowboy which has resided in him since childhood, which he retained from that point on. He enjoyed sailboat racing with his father and brother as members of the Indianapolis Sailing Club.
Once settling down in Indianapolis, he embarked on various careers, most notably three decades in construction sales. While work was important, play was critical and he enjoyed life to the very fullest. He had a great love for cars, of which he had many. Being of the 50's and 60's era, they were always cool cars and they were always fast. Tom personified cool from his high school days and he carried it off well even into his later life. He was so cool he even knew how to dance and still look cool. If there was fun to be had, Tom was having and creating it...and it usually involved something that had an engine!
He was a kid at heart and truly never grew up...only grew older. His passion for play and enthusiasm for toys defined him. From vintage bikes, hot-air balloon chasing, a miniature model-T, dirt bikes, Harley Davidsons, toy guns, leather working (making gun holsters and gear), Broncos (old and new), classic cars and toy cars, Tom was always collecting, buying and selling. He spent countless hours in his garage, tinkering with and rebuilding over half a dozen motorcycles and over 65 vintage bikes. In his later years, he became a dog enthusiast and raised and trained multiple dogs, two of which were his very best friends, Mater the golden doodle and Gus the golden retriever. Weekly, for seven years, he volunteered at the VA hospital in Indianapolis with Mater, visiting with patients and staff to bring joy and unconditional love to their days.
Music and dance flowed through his body and soul. From his early years of playing guitar and singing songs with his family and friends, years of moving and grooving on the dance floor, to his golden years of playing songs and videos on his phone on repeat, he became fully engulfed in the lyrics and the beat. Music made him happy. In his final days in the hospital and at home, a playlist of songs was compiled and were played on repeat...singing and enjoying every moment and memory created.
In 2021 he moved to Corona, CA to live in the care of his daughter, Nichole. In 2022 he purchased a 1940 Ford Coupe and became involved with local car clubs. He participated with several clubs to include Cars and Coffee and Rickshaws before finding Senior Cruisers (the cool kids) where he became an active member and made strong friendships. He spent four and a half years, enjoying the California sun, adventuring and off-roading with his daughter, playing intense games of Farkle (to include "Facetime Farkle" with his son Tom and ex-wife Margie), bonding with his granddaughters and making all new Southern California friends. Tom hosted his brother to California annually, taking several trips along the coastal highway for four wheeler dune explorations and wine country excursions. This included a broader family trip to Yosemite National Park this last July. Tom was on the go even into his final chapter.
Tom made friends everywhere he went and he didn't know a stranger. He often came home from his daily stroll at the park with Gus to tell of the new friend(s) he had made that day. Even his stays in the hospital would result in new friendships! He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Celebration of Life
Family and friends will gather on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 2:00 pm for an informal Celebration of Life in Corona. Please come prepared with stories, and any photos, to share with everyone. You are also welcome to add stories on the Memory Wall and photos in the Gallery below.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
2:00 p.m. Pacific
18797 State Street
Corona, CA 92881
***This is an outdoor venue.***
Attire is casual.
Kindly RSVP to Nichole (via text to 317.332.7007) by Friday, October 3rd.
Light food and beverages will be provided.
A second small ceremony will be held in Indianapolis at a later date. To be updated with event information, please text Nichole at 317.332.7007.
Gallery
Memory wall
This whole week and the days leading up to Tom’s passing have been filled with memories we shared. I found I could not put them down in a tribute as my mind was so filled and constantly processing his life as I knew him. I could not adequately define it. Reading the other comments and tributes to my brother were so good and on the mark of who Tom was and is in our hearts. Yet, he was so much more to me. He was my big brother, and I had the best seat in the house.
From the earliest time I can remember, I was Tom’s favorite toy. No surprise one of his favorite movies was Toy Story, and looking back I was much like Woodie. He inserted me in every type of situation you can imagine any young boy would dream up. He would take me to caves (culverts) where Giants lived and had left huge bags of gold coins (pennies) just for me. He took me treat or treat too young to go out door-to-door in costume, but old enough to accompany him to soap windows and egg cars. I was his test pilot and supporting role in any situation he wanted to put me in. I loved it.
This continues our whole life and gave me many life lessons on what’s fun and worth doing, and what not to do, but also to know how to get out of trouble when it would go wrong, and it did!
These adventures he treated me to grew in scale and hurried my age and abilities to catch up with his. The 8 1/2 years distance between us soon became smaller as I grew older and he suppressed his maturity so I could catch up. When I was still in grade school and into Jr. High I was riding shotgun and cruising the drive-inns, and hanging out with him, his friends, and girls… That was really cool!. This became more fun as I got older and our adventures became grander over time.
Tom and communicated at a higher plane. We could sense when we needed to talk and were always comfortable saying nothing and feeling comfortable about it, because we knew… Our shared understanding of our unique faith and upbringing gave us confidence that we were not alone and that we knew when to listen to that still small voice. We both believed it guided and protected our lives in many of the very dangerous predicaments we found ourselves from time to time. But what great adventures had pushing the envelope of life in work and in play.
We loved reminiscing about those times and adventures, and we never tired of hearing the other telling them and making them grander with each retelling. As we aged, and our memories faded a little and these stories became fresh again, as if some little parts of them were previously unknown to us.
As I write this, memories keep flooding my mind of who he was and who he will always be in my heart. Obviously, many of you have wonderful memories of Tom as well. For me, he will always be my Giant, my big brother. I am eternally grateful for Tom’s love and impact on my life.
See you down the trail big brother…
"He is one of the good guys. What I remember most about Tom is his positivity. He always had a hobby or cars and so forth. Just the other month he sent me a model car of a black 57 chevy convertible. He alwyas had something good to say. One of the things I remember is he liked that nastalgic old time cars. I have good memories of his character."
we crossed paths with people that are going to teach us lessons about life … it was a pleasure to meet Handsome Tom… heaven is having a celebration because it’s welcoming an angel !!
Français
Deutsch
Nederlands
Español
Português
Magyar
Русский
繁體中文