THOMAS A. GERTZ MESA, AZ - Thomas A. Gertz of Mesa, Arizona passed away on July 3, 2014, at his home, after a long battle with cancer. He was born April 27, 1945, to Donald and Eva (Widell) Gertz in Rockford, Illinois. He attended East High School in Rockford. He joined the Marine Corp in 1965, and served in Vietnam and married Joan Garland of Monmouth, IL in 1968. He was very active in civic organizations in Rockford, and he coached youth baseball and football for many years and those were some of his happiest times. He moved his remodeling company to Mesa, Arizona in 1986, with his partner and close friend, Randy Molander. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and their two children, JD Gertz of Flagstaff, AZ and Kristy L. Gertz of Mesa, AZ; his brother, James (Gloria) of Cottonwood, AZ; sister, Karen Levinbook of Boulder, CO; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Private military services were held at the National Veteran's Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.