eyJkIjo3MiwieCI6IjM0IiwieSI6IjAiLCJjdyI6IjI3Ni4wMDUzNjE5MzAyOTQ4NCIsImNoIjoiMzU0Ljk5OTk5OTk5OTk5OTk0Iiwicm8iOiIwIiwiY3IiOjEsInciOjI0MCwiaCI6MzAwLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvYWRhcy1vcmVnb24tY2FzLW9iaXRzLnMzLmFtYXpvbmF3cy5jb21cL3Bob3Rvc1wvY3JlYXRlX3N0b3J5XC82MzhmODFmY2EzMGVlXC9jZjJkY2ZlZTljMjU1ZmQ2MjA5YTZmZTRhZjE3LmpwZyJ9.jpeg


Tommy Schalk

January 11, 1943 - December 2, 2022

Thomas Edward (Tom) Schalk, 79, of Gainesville, passed away December 2, 2022. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 11, 1943 to parents Leroy and Ann Schalk. He grew up in Eldorado, Arkansas where he attended school and graduated in 1961. He selected Louisiana Tech for college where he majored in business and pledged with the Kappa Sigma fraternity. During this time, his parents relocated to Gainesville where his father accepted the position of manager of the 77 Bowl bowling alley. Tom opted to transfer to the University of North Texas to pursue his degree while helping his family. He worked at the bowling alley and met Ray and Joy Die, avid bowlers at the time. Joy immediately saw potential in him and insisted her daughter, Joybell, come meet him. He asked her on a date, and fate led them to marry on August, 19, 1967.

After graduating from University of North Texas, Tom entered the United States Navy as a commissioned officer and worked as a navigator flying many combat missions during the Vietnam War. He exited active duty in 1972 but remained in the naval reserves earning the rank of Captain before being honorably discharged in 1992.

After his Naval tour ended in 1972, Mr. Schalk began working with Michael Rigler as a staff accountant while pursuing his Certified Public Accountant accreditation. He received his MBA from the University of North Texas in 1974. He was promoted to partner at his office of Rigler and Schalk, CPA and proudly worked providing accounting services to the Gainesville community. In 1984, Tom joined with fellow CPA Judy Smith to open the new accounting firm of Schalk & Smith, PC (which is still in operation today).

For over fifty years, Tom Schalk has been a contributing member of Gainesville through his participation in clubs such as the Optimist Club, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce as well as donating his time and financial support to many not-for-profit organizations around the community.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Ann Schalk, and his beloved wife Joybell Die Schalk. He is survived by son Trey Schalk of Gainesville with wife Amy, daughter Joyann Cooke of Highland Village with husband Brad and children Addelyn Joy Cooke and Mackson Thomas Cooke, and many friends.

 Memorial services will be held Wednesday, December 7 at 2:00pm in the chapel of Geo J. Carroll Funeral Home, 602 Lindsay Street, Gainesville, TX. There will be no visitation held.
In lieu of gifts, the family respectfully suggests donating to the GISD Foundation in support of education for GISD or Noah's Ark because he loved animals.