Tommy Zarogoza was born on June 30th 1960 to Janet and Joseph Zarogoza. Janet and Joseph had many children which meant Tom was surrounded by lots of family throughout his life. His siblings include Monty, Joe, Carmen, Mary, Julie, Linda, John, Michael, Jenny, Patty, and Gregory.
In 1978 Tom married his high school sweetheart Francine Lorraine Whitehead and together they brought three amazing children into the world Melissa, Jason, and Sean. Though their marriage was short, their love for one another was nothing less than grand.
Tom’s heart grew when he married his second wife Toni in 1987 and became a step father to her four children Renae, Eddie, Eric, and Wesley. Together they spent many amazing years traveling the countryside and seemingly endless days boating at several of the lakes in Utah making memories, loving life and building dreams while basking in the sun.
Following the end of his relationship with his second wife, Tom finally met the woman who would later become the love his life, Linda. Linda would often bring her Wave Runners to Tom for repair and routine maintenance. Sharing a common love of watersports and adventure, their frequent encounters soon blossomed into committed relationship where they spent many years traveling and making memories together.
Tom was a man of many talents. He was a master of fiberglass repair and spent many years building his business into a highly sought after Marine Repair Shop. Among his hobbies was a strong passion for auto repair and diagnosis. He was an amazing mechanic and could fix anything that could go wrong with on or off-road vehicles.
He enjoyed traveling and being up at the lake as often as he could with friends and family. Having a love for the outdoors, he soon came to be an amazing cook and anyone who tried his cheesecake would always say it was to die for. He also perfected the art of making cinnamon rolls that were so soft they would melt in your mouth and would somehow always disappear as fast as the cheesecake.
Tom had many friends throughout his life. His warmth, personality, and charismatic energy made him almost irresistible and anyone who met him couldn’t help but love him. Even the pets he owned enjoyed being by his side. Especially his kitten “Baby Girl” who will miss him
greatly.
With eleven grandkids and more nieces and nephews than you could count, Tom’s joking manner and carefree spirit will be missed by all his friends, family, and loved ones. Even though we here on earth will miss him greatly, we take comfort in the knowledge that all of our loved ones who have passed on before him have welcomed him back home to Heaven.
Parents: Janet Marie McNabb Zarogoza and Joseph Bario Zarogoza
Siblings: Monty (Judith) Zarogoza, Joe (Celine) Zarogoza, Carmen (Jesse) Valdez, Mary (Romero) Senteno, Julie (Edwardo) Naffate, Linda Newton, John (Lori) Zarogoza, Michael (Lisa) Zarogoza, Jenny Zarogoza, Patty Zarogoza, and Greg Paul Stone
Children/Stepchildren: Melissa (Brad) Zarogoza Harrison, Jason (Adrianna) Zarogoza, Sean (Mark) Zarogoza, Renee (Tracey) Gallo, Eddie Barela, Eric (Mistie) Barela, and Wesley Barela.
Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Butler 4th Ward, 6634 S Greenfield Way (1800 E) Cottonwood Heights, UT on Saturday the 9th of March 2024 at 10 A.M. Following the service, a potluck luncheon will be held in Tom’s honor.
Funeral Arrangements provided by Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092
My heart is saddened by your loss of your Dad.
Tom was always kind and always greeted me with a hug. He had The best smile ❤️
I will always remember the happy times I shared with you all.
Linda, you have always been a blessing to Tom and I pray you will have comfort in your loss. 💕
Oh my darling Tom! Whatever will we do without you! You were always there for us! To jump my car or change the oil or more the lawn or serve with my mom to fix a car in Nevada or California and just recently dropped everything and fixed my leaking toilet on a Sunday! You were so giving and thoughtful, bringing us cake just the other day! I know you're safe and happy with Jesus and we'll look after your beloved Linda! You will always hold a special place in our hearts! Rest in paradise dear 🧡 friend
Oh Tom, my heart aches knowing you're gone. When I read Linda's text I yelled NO out loud to no one in my empty house. I missed you enough when you went to Utah but this is much harder to wrap my head & heart around. I was so happy to hear it happened fast & you didn't suffer. I'm really glad your move to Utah was good, that you've been healthy & happy and you & Linda were good together. You clearly loved and cared for each other and you deserved to have that.
I say ditto to messages here of your amazing ability to diagnose and fix sick cars and anything else that was broken or needed fixing or improved. All of my DIY house projects & repairs you helped with are proof of that and unlike a lot of people I know, your fixes & inventions actually worked. My favorite house project is still the amazing storage loft you built in my attic.
We had a lot of fun, didn't we? I loved binge watching Netflix with you even though I went to work without enough sleep too many times because I stayed up late watching Glee, Longmire & Breaking Bad with you. And the time Kari tried fluffing up her new bed until she tore it open and we both took pictures of her laying in a mountain of filling, with it hanging off her ear, looking really puzzled.
I've told all of your Seattle friends and I want you to know you are loved and truly missed by everyone here. Matt, Amanda, Bruce, Carlos & Gary are all feeling a little more sad today but we're also all very grateful for having known you. You are a very special friend and you are loved. Rest well Tom.
I send all the Love from my family to yours. It saddens me so much to hear of Tommy's passing. He will be missed.
It was with great honor he opened his home to give us a Beautiful wedding that will never be forgotten.
Love You Tommy Thank You
Dear Linda, Family, and Friends of Tommy,
It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that I write these words today. The passing of my younger brother, Tommy, has left an indelible void in my life, as I'm sure it has in yours. Tommy's journey on this earth may have ended, but his spirit will forever live in our memories and hearts.
Tommy was more than just a brother to me; he was a kindred spirit, a confidant, and a friend. Despite the passage of time and the distance that grew between us, our bond was unbreakable. As the slightly older brother, I often found myself in a protective stance around Tommy, watching over him with love and care.
We may have grown apart and lost touch with each other's lives, but my love for Tommy remained constant and unwavering. I will always cherish the moments we shared and deeply regret the lost years we could have spent together.
Tommy's journey in life was not without its struggles, but he remained resilient and courageous. He may have grappled with finding himself, but in his way, he touched the lives of those around him with his kindness, generosity, and gentle spirit.
Though I may grieve his absence, we will take comfort in the belief that he has embarked on a journey to a better place where pain and suffering no longer hold sway.
To Tommy's beloved wife, sons, and daughters, my heart goes out to you during this profound loss. Know that you are not alone in your grief, for Tommy's family extends beyond blood ties to include all those whose lives he touched with his warmth and kindness.
May Tommy's memories bring you solace in the days ahead, and may you find solace in the love and support of family and friends. Though he may no longer walk beside us, his spirit will forever guide and watch over us, a beacon of light in the darkness.
Rest in peace, dear brother Tommy. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten.
With heartfelt condolences and love,
John & Lori L Zarogoza
Knoxville, Tn