Thomas H. Rekemeier

Thomas H. Rekemeier, Sr. Retired Township of Union Fire Chief passed away on October 20, 2022

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to visit at Galante Funeral Home 2800
Morris Ave Union, NJ on Sunday October 23 from 2:00 pm-6:00 pm and Monday October 24
at 10:15 am.  Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am.

Tom was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth and was a lifelong resident of
Union. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served in Fighter SQ 103
aboard the carrier USS Forrestal CVA 59. Tom was a life member of the Forrestal
Association.
Chief Rekemeier joined the Union Fire Department in 1962 and rose through the
ranks to become Chief of the Department and retired in 1991.
Chief was a member of the N.J. State Career Fire Chiefs Association, the N.J.
Union County Chiefs Association, and FMBA Locals 46 and 246. Tom was a Life
Member of Union Elks #1583, a Life Member of the Kenilworth VFW Post 2230,
and a member of the Union American Legion Post 35.

Chief Rekemeier is survived by his wife of 39 years Kathleen (Kolb), two children
Thomas, Jr, and Tracy Hawley, four grandchildren Danielle, Laurin, Tori, and
Joseph, and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his “adopted family”
Ginny, Rich, and Bryan Wilson and Kristen, Eric, and Avery Zmuda.
Members of Emergency Services are encouraged to attend in uniform.

Donations in memory of Chief Rekemeier can be made to Center for Hope Hospice
1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 or FMBA Local 246 P.O. Box 3582
Union, NJ 07083.