August 7, 1949 – January 8, 2024
Tom passed away unexpectedly and has left a deep chasm for so many.
Tom was born August 7, 1949, in St. Louis to Clarence and Lorene (Schactner) Noel. He was the younger of two sons. He graduated from Southwest High School in St. Louis City. As a youth he was an active Boy Scout earning his Eagle Rank in 1963. After graduation he attended Southeast Missouri State College and joined the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.
Tom joined the United States Marine Corp in 1967 and served two summers while still a student. He was unable to go active due to health issues. But, Once a Marine, always a Marine”
in September 1969 Tom met his future wife, Jackie, at during a fraternity party whre she was upstairs, off limits. She accepted a date from Tom but had to ask, “Who’s the guy with the green car?” because she forgot his name! Tom married Jacqueline Gonzales from New York City two years later on August 28, 1971.
Shortly after, Tom became a Master Mason, rising to Worshipful Master. He also joined the Scottish Rite and Moolah Temple Shrine. Again. Serving in leadership roles. He joined and eventually became President of the Moolah Temple Clown Unit, where he was known as “Patches.”
During the summer of 1969, he went to work at Yellowstone National Park, serving/cooking food at the Old Faithful location. He loved the outdoors and during that time discovered Jenny Lake in the Tetons. He always said Jenny Lake was the most beautiful place he had ever been, and if he had a daughter, she had to be called Jenny. Jennifer Florence was born in 1982 and she was his special “Daddy’s Girl “.
His son, Mark Thomas was born in 1984 and his family was complete. As the kids grew older, camping became their favorite activity. Tom spent time teaching them to swim, hike, and camp. Mark followed his footsteps into Scouts, also earning his rank of Eagle.
Tom was a natural leader and believed strongly in Servant Leadership. He wore many different hats, but his favorites were from the Boy Scouts of America NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) and Wood Badge .
He retired from Maritz Performance Improvement Company and enjoyed traveling in his RV with his wife. The goal was to camp in every state. He made it to all the lower forty-eight states and some Canadian provinces and was started on a second round. Hawaii and Alaska were on the horizon.
Tom is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jackie; his daughter, Jennifer; and his son, Mark. He also leaves behind a brother, Robert (Theresa) Noel; and four favorite nieces: Tina (Paul) Flewwellin, Heather (Mitch)Bozeman, Holly (Joel) Barker, and Heidi Noel.
In lieu of flowers, Tom would like memorials made to the Becky Fisk Wood Badge Scholarship Boy fund, Boy Scouts of America, Greater St. Louis Area Council. The specific code is 1.2306.808.0.
Services: A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Emerson Center at Beaumont Scout Reservation on January 28, 2024 at 2pm.
Thank you for providing this summary. What a wonderful life with family adventures and getting out to experience natural beauty!
Tom was a gentleman, smiling, friendly, and welcoming conversations among friends. I am grateful we got to visit during our November 2023 reunion in Cape Girardeau, as I am for all the times we enjoyed during college and subsequent reunions.
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So much enjoyed working with Tom and Jackie on NYLT staff. Tom will be missed by many. Condolences to Jackie and the family.
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Tom’s ‘Gone-Home’. God’s Warmth and Grace to Jackie and all the Noel Family. Tom’s Positive Attitude Will Be Greatly Missedy. Thanks, Tom, for Sharing Your Time with Me and All Your Fellow Eagles./t
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I love the part about Tom serving/cooking food at Old Faithful. That’s a fitting tribute to Tom. I very much enjoyed working with Tom on NYLT and will miss his smiling face and positive can-do attitude. Condolences to the family and Jackie.
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Tom was the SM and I was an ASM for him at my first JLTC staffing opportunity, known and worked with him ever since – already miss him greatly. The Lord has picked up a wonderful and caring Servant Leader who will prepare a path for us to join him. My prayers are with you Ms. Jackie. Our reflections will be for all the tremendous things he has done.
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I was so saddened to hear of Tom’s sudden passing. He has been on my mind ever since I got the news. His obituary told me so much more about Tom than I ever knew; what an outstanding life of leadership and service he had before I knew him – and after – of all the things Tom had done and accomplished along the way! His obituary told me about the Tom I never knew. I was so impressed with his leadership skills and his dedication to the Marines as well as his excellence and service in other areas. I would have never guessed Tom would be “Patches”. I knew he was very active in Boy Scouts, but there was so much more and he was a leader and provided service to many. Our lives crossed paths when we worked together at Maritz Performance Improvement Company – as well as at occasional social gatherings. I remember Tom as a friendly, easy-going co-worker as we worked in adjacent offices at Maritz. He accomplished his dreams – camping in 48 states – and as they say “Tom’s life was a life well-lived” – just cut too short in our hearts. May his life and his love carry you all through these difficult times.
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