Thomas Charles Bucek, age 78, of Crystal Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Tom was born on March 5, 1928, to John and Angeline Bucek. John and Angeline would be proud that Tom passed on many of his Polish heritage traditions. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters and brothers Janet & Michael Bucek, Angeline Hollich, Helen Minick, Joseph Bucek, Beatrice Bjork, and Sophie Huska and is survived by one brother, John, and two sisters, Mary Minick and Marjorie Skibo. He married Joyce Stromberg on October 1, 1949, and together they had six children, Barbara (John) Switzky, Thomas (Deborah) Bucek, Edward Bucek, who preceded him in death in 1970, Patricia Bucek, Cheryl (Robert) Dickert, and Randy (Amy Marinoff) Bucek; 10 grandchildren, Craig (Staci) Panich, Shawn (Jessica McElvain) Panich, Christopher & Kevin Bucek, Jeffrey, Eric and Michelle Peterson, Jessica Dickert, Hannah Marinoff and Megan Bucek; and two great-grandchildren, Kade and Alayna Panich. He also leaves many close relatives and friends and his special 4-legged pal, Spud. A lifelong resident of Crystal Falls, Tom worked in the woods, the iron mines, and farmed. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, a good joke, and a good story. His sense of humor and great story telling will be missed. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 23, 2006, at the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls. The funeral mass will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Crystal Falls. Rev. Dino Silvestrini will officiate and Tom will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Crystal Falls. Pallbearers will be grandsons Craig & Shawn Panich, Christopher & Kevin Bucek, and Jeffrey & Eric Peterson. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of Dickinson Health Care and Hospice Program, and the many family and friends who supported Tom and his family during this very difficult year. Friends may leave condolences to Thomas' family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com The Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home of Crystal Falls is serving the family. His body may have died, but look around you, his spirit lives on.