Brandon Township resident Tim Thome drives to Southfield daily for work, but he somehow still always manages to make time to spend with his eight children, and his wife of 20 years, Judy.
The Thome family has attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion for the past five years, and Tim said raising his children to love God above all else and lead a moral Catholic life has been his number one priority.
Originally from Sparta, Tim met Judy when they were both living and working in Dallas, Texas. Judy is originally from North Dakota.
They have eight children: Luke, 19; Aaron, 17; Carrie, 15; Paige, 10; Madeliene, 8; Nicholas, 5; TJ, 2; and baby Alyssa, eight months.
Tim works as vice president of estimating for Campbell/Manix, a construction company in Southfield. Judy is a stay-at-home mom, and also home schools Carrie, Paige, Madeliene and Nicholas.
‘Luke graduated from St. Thomas More in Burton,? said Tim. ‘He’s working two jobs right now. Aaron will be a senior there.?
Tim grew up in a large family himself, although not quite as one as his own. He had two sisters and two brothers growing up in Sparta, in the Grand Rapids area.
Judy grew up with just one brother.
‘It’s very different from how it was when I was growing up,? she said.
Tim said he and Judy try to keep the kids busy.
‘They all have different interests,? he said. ‘We try to do a lot of things as a family. My parents have a cottage on the west side of the state, and we spend a lot of holidays there.?
Something else that is important to Tim is the family eating dinner together as much as possible.
‘I push pretty hard to get home at 5:30 p.m. for family dinner,? he said. ‘We like to eat together.?
Tim said the younger kids like to go to the park, while the older children are involved in lots of sports and clubs.
‘Carrie’s played three sports at Thomas More, they let her play sports there even though she’s home schooled,? Tim said. ‘Aaron played basketball there.?
The Thomes have been doing home schooling for the past 12 years.
‘Every waking minute for my wife with the kids they are together,? Tim said, adding that the older children do a good job helping with the young ones.
‘With this size of a family, you need help from all the kids,? he said.
Growing up, Tim said he never thought about having a large family himself someday.
‘My dad came from a family of seven,? he said. ‘My dad was very supportive when I was growing up. When I was first starting out in sports, he helped coach, and I’ve done that with my own oldest boys.?
The Thomes plan to celebrate Father’s Day on June 19 as a ‘hang-out-together-day.?
Judy said when she first met Tim, she knew he would make a good father.
‘He used to take a different child out for breakfast each Saturday,? she said. ‘His family is definitely the top priority for him. He gives work all he’s got, but there’s no question that he’ll be here for us.?
‘I like when we go on bike rides,? Madeliene said.
Carrie said her father is always doing stuff with her and her brothers and sisters when he’s away from work.
‘He always makes sure he has time for his kids,? she said.