Thomas "Tom" Paul Gysi, Sr., 81, of El Centro, passed away Sunday, November, 22, 2015. Tom was born in Zofingen, Switzerland to Paul and Hedwig Gysi.

He immigrated to El Centro, California at the age of 17 [arrived alone in NY on October 7, 1951] and went to work for his uncle at the Alpine Swiss Dairy. Tom joined the Air Force in 1957 and was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. During that time he met and married his wife Beverly.

After Tom was discharged from the Air Force in 1961, he and Beverly moved back to El Centro. Tom worked in the farming industry until retirement. Then he began working as a school bus driver. Tom was an aircraft aficionado and shared his immense knowledge with his family. He loved to watch aircraft fly, especially the Blue Angels. Tom also enjoyed vintage trains. Tom had a great appreciation of nature. He enjoyed driving around the desert looking at wildflowers and pointing out lands where he used to work.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly and brother, Urs Gysi.

He is survived by his children, Jeff Cook, Debbie (Yerg) Gilstrap, Tom Gysi Jr. (Felicia) and Susan Gysi; grandchildren, Missy Decker, Amanda and Wilbert Johnson, Thomas Gysi III, Raymond and Jacob Creighton; great-grandchildren, Jade Johnson, Josh, Jeremy, Brianna, Jason, and Kaleaha Decker; and sister Marianne Meir.

Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at 10 a.m. at Christ Community Church, 590 W. Orange Ave., El Centro.

Published in Imperial Valley Press Online

from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 2015

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Thomas married Beverly Cook in Carson City, Nevada, on December 23, 1960, when he was 26 years old. They had (2) children, Tom Jr and Susan. They were divorced on April 25, 1978, in Imperial County, California, after 17 years of marriage. He was 43 years old.

Thomas remarried Beverly Mae (Cook) Bowlan in Clark County, Nevada, on July 28, 1984, when he was 50 years old.