Tom Frank Mach

Tom Frank Mach passed away on February 24, 2026 at his Lawrence home, with his beloved wife of 57 years, Virginia, at his side. He was 85.

Born on June 16, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Joseph and Josephine Mach, he was the brother of Florence (Mach) Helmetag.

Tom worked as a chemical engineer and as a marketing professional for several major companies. In his memoir, Persistence Then Peace, he described three instances where he let pride affect him and was promptly humiliated. Humility was the first important lesson he said he learned.

Another was patience. After his retirement in 2002, Tom became involved with volunteer activities such as tutoring third and fourth graders in California; coaching first graders in Kansas on how to write stories; reading to 4-year-olds, teaching writing to kids through Lawrence Parks and Recreation; and providing dictionaries to fourth graders through the Lawrence Breakfast Optimist Club. These experiences taught him patience. Discovering how patient he could be with young children, he translated that same practice to interactions with adults.

Forgiveness was yet another virtue he learned from his life experiences. Not only did he understand how heavy it was to hold a grudge, he found peace and joy in forgiving others—details of which are included in his memoir. In some of his poems and in six of the books he wrote, he described how and why true forgiveness is so important.

Since enduring a double compression fracture of his spine a few years ago, Tom was limited to using a walker to move about. What surprised him was the kindness he received from others wanting to help him in any way they could. Once on his way to the Lawrence Sports Pavilion, a man raced ahead of him so he could open the door for Tom. Another time, a girl of about seven smiled as she struggled to open the heavy door for him. Often strangers would ask if he needed any help and Tom not only thanked them, but usually told them that they earned their angel wings.

Tom sang in the St. John’s church choir and served as a lector for Mass. If he saw strangers begging near a curb, he’d ask them their name and then request that the person pray for him. “Everyone was made in God’s image,” he’d say. “I’m simply following what the Bible says in Hebrews 13:2.”

Tom is survived by his wife, Virginia (Blum), daughter Michelle (Neal), son Mark, and daughter-in-law Sanu, as well as by his four beautiful grandchildren, Hannah, Noah, Joanna, and Lydia.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church for Tom Mach at a later date. A private interment will be held at Holy Family Cemetery in West Branch, Michigan, in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, a monetary contribution may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence, Kansas, for the intention of Masses to be said in Tom’s memory.