OBITUARY FROM BURNS FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE:
Coach Tom Kerr, age 87 of Hobart, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 1st, 2026, at his home after a 3-year battle with cancer.
Tom was a 1957 Hobart graduate who met and married his high school sweetheart, Maryann (Brush) Kerr. After playing many high school sports, he received a football scholarship from the University of Michigan. There he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. After graduation he returned to his hometown and began coaching multiple sports. Football became his passion, which he pursued for 32 years as a successful defensive coordinator, followed by several years as a retired coach.
God knew what he was doing when he gave Tom three daughters. This allowed him to consider the young men he coached as his sons. He loved his players and students and strived for their growth and success. Tom held each of them in a special place in his heart.
When he wasn’t involved in football, he was golfing. Tom and Maryann enjoyed spending the winters in Florida with the multiple friends they found in their golfing community. He enjoyed taking summer golf trips with his buddies, where more laughing occurred than golfing.
Tom was an amazing father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife; Maryann, his parents; Arley and Gladys Kerr, and sister; Shirley. He is survived by his three daughters; Cyndi (Dan) Marconi, Sherry (Jim) Zieba, Amy (Erik) Burkhart, nine grandchildren; Cameron (Kalia) Spencer, Kaleigh Spencer, Jacob Zieba, Megan (Kevin) Meyer, Alex Zieba, Jon Zieba, Dawson (Madison) Burkhart, Amanda (Ben) Sievert, Jake (Stacy) Marconi and multiple nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 4-8 P.M. at Hobart High School Auditorium, 2211 E. 10th St., Hobart, Indiana 46342. Please wear your Brickie Pride purple and gold. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. at St Bridget Catholic Church, 107 Main St., Hobart, Indiana 46342. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Hobart Food Pantry or Hobart Booster Club in Tom Kerr's Memory.
Please visit Tom’s online guestbook and obituary at www.BurnsFuneral.com
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.burnsfuneral.com/obituaries/coach-tom-kerr/#!/Obituary. The picture above was obtained from the 1957 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS1957Images/.
TOM KERR'S PAGE IN THE INDIANA FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME:
https://ifca-hof.org/inductee/kerr-tom/
TRIBUTE FROM PAUL CONDRY:
Please read Paul Condry's tribute on our home page.