THOMAS VENEMAN

One of my favorite memories growing up was getting in the car on fall Saturdays and heading to my dad’s best friend Ed’s house to huddle, along with his family, around a 1970’s era TV and watch Buckeye football. It was a ritual complete with great food and “The Best Damn Band in the Land” album on the turntable, echoing through the house.

One particular Saturday, we arrived early. So early, that Ed’s son and I decided we would head down to the park to start a pick-up game of our own. We were dominating like the Buckeyes did each Saturday in the 70’s, until I landed wrong on a tackle and hurt my arm.

Playing it safe, we decided to head back to watch the game. When I let my dad know about my hurt arm, he and I were on the same page: The Buckeyes were playing … the hurt arm could wait. And wait it did while we hooted and hollered all afternoon as the Buckeyes rolled to yet another victory.

Later, in the emergency room, we learned that I had broken my arm, but it didn’t matter. The Buckeyes won. And it got me out of a lot of homework that semester.

In my years with my dad, we were fortunate enough to get “staff lottery” season tickets to Buckeye games every once in a blue moon (my mom worked for Ohio State) and travelled to a few away games by bus with local organizations he was affiliated with.

Those are all days I will never forget.

But the real story didn’t start on fall Saturdays, it started each and every Monday when my dad would work 2 to 3 jobs to make sure he could afford my tuition to St. Charles, a decision that would end up making me the success I am today. Without his sacrifices then, my “today” would be very different than it is.

As I would later learn, his sacrifices weren’t only reserved for me. In my junior year of college (OSU, of course), he let me know that he was battling an addiction to alcohol and had started attending AA meetings. This worked miraculously for him as he spent the remaining 37 years of his life sober.

But he didn’t just take the win, he leaned into it. AA became a calling for him as he shared his story, volunteered endlessly and advised and sponsored many others who were seeking the same path to recovery.

In his “free time,” he amassed thousands of additional volunteer hours with Riverside Hospital (Ohio) and Englewood Community Hospital (Florida).

And, around his 55+ community in Englewood, he was known as the person to call if you needed a ride to or from Tampa International (a 175 mile round trip).

My dad was a good man who made other people’s lives better and I owe everything I am to him and my mother and the sacrifices they made to raise the generational bar.

My dad’s dry humor, empathy, service to others and the love he had for his family, and his extended AA “family,” will be dearly missed.

My dad was born to John Walker Veneman and Elizabeth Jane (McCaffrey) Veneman on December 1, 1940 in Steubenville, Ohio. After graduating from Steubenville Catholic Central High School, he set off for the big city, state capital, Columbus. After several initial jobs, he ultimately landed a lifelong position with the Ohio Auditor of State’s office before retiring to Florida.

In 2020, he returned to his Ohio roots. After 4 additional years living with us and 18 months in assisted living, he passed away on November 15, 2025.

Thomas Timothy Veneman is preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Donna Mae Latkiewicz and Margaret Ann “Peggy” Welsh Harris; and his brother, Michael J. Veneman.

He is survived by his brother, John Walker “Jack” Veneman, Jr.; his sister Janine Jones; son (me), Joseph Veneman; daughter- in-law, Amy Veneman; grandchildren, Grant Veneman and Megan Veneman; and great-granddaughter, Hazel Veneman.

A visitation and memorial gathering for family and friends (2pm-4pm) and short service (4pm-4:30pm) will be held on Sunday November 23, 2025 at Robinson Funeral Home, 32 W. Winter St, Delaware, OH 43015.