Thomas Kepler

UPDATE #2 Tom was a musician and artist, and music was an important part of his life. This playlist includes songs he loved, along with those he wrote and performed as Frog and Toad with his musical brother Dave Schwartz. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KYil8pM4rqf7cUatfOXZN?si=be076026e2e14b91 The photo reel we shared at yesterday's open house is linked below for those who were not able to attend, or those who (like me) just want to spend a little time with him today. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WpAfVIKhmddhovLHfcevCBxhiJcCdr3RvSAwwsrMVp8/edit?usp=sharing UPDATE Please scroll down for obituary. Also, in support of the sobriety communities that were so important to Tom, the open house will be a sober event. ——————————————— A note from Lizzie: Hello everyone. Thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and support. Tom was loved and will be acutely missed by so many. Tom did not want to have a memorial service. To honor his wishes while also offering a place for folks to bring their broken hearts over his sudden and unexpected loss, we will be having a reception/open house this coming Friday, March 20th. Because Tom has dear ones all over the globe, we will have a dedicated time for folks to gather remotely via Zoom in the morning, followed by an in-person open house in the afternoon and evening. If you are able, please come by to share your Tom stories, bring a snack, and grab a hug or three. Zoom Gathering When: Friday, March 20th, 10:30am to Noon CST Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81338751134?pwd=NGW4q8VROC60gDPnJ4g1uKNvXSo1uY.1 Open House Reception When: Friday, March 20th, 2pm to 8pm Where: 2004 Seward St. (on the first block west of Dodge) Evanston, IL, 60202 In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to: We Rate Dogs at https://15outof10.org/ or Chicago’s Public Broadcasting Station, https://secure.wttw.com/?s=t-oa-web-pledge” ———————————— Tom Kepler, 54; art director, graphic and book designer, typesetting expert, dog whisperer, and talented artist and musician; passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep at home in Southwest Evanston, in the early morning of March 12, 2026. It appears that Tom’s death was quick and without distress Thomas Alan Kepler was born in Columbus, OH to Jim, a writer and Ann, an editor. Jim cautioned friends and family that "the first person to call him 'Tommy' does not get to see him again." He was Tom to everyone. Tom lived exclusively in Evanston since he was three years old. He attended Lincoln Elementary where he was a Cub Scout, Nichols Middle School, and Evanston Township High School – where he met Lizzie, whom he would later marry. Tom also attended Columbia College. From his earliest days, his parents knew that Tom was smarter than either of them. Most importantly, he had wisdom and kindness beyond his years—and a wry and marvelous sense of humor. His parents discovered that he could read at age three when they heard him reading street signs on a car trip, chalking it up to PBS and valuable bedtime stories with his mom. Being the only child of a writer and an editor came with benefits; from a young age, Tom collected books. Tom loved letters and words, pens. More than anything, he loved to draw. The couple would bring their tiny son to a restaurant, place paper and crayons in his hands, and enjoy their meal. Tom’s drawing talent was evident from an early age and would be something he would do throughout his life - creating comical characters that always had a little extra dollop of humanity and sweetness. His first professional contribution was at the age of eleven, when a piece of art appeared in a brochure. His first design schematics was a book on Japanese floral arranging. Tom was 14. Tom was also a left-handed male who excelled at art, math, and music, qualities not uncommon to someone with a stutter. As a child, Tom masked his speech impediment by locking eyes with his conversation partner, nodding, and repeating "uh huh." The search for synonyms in a stutter lead to an expansive vocabulary. The stutter completely disappeared when he was singing, imitating other people, arguing with his Oscar the Grouch handpuppet, or angrily telling off childhood bullies. While in high school, Tom worked at Tom Thumb craft supply and skate shop on Davis and also at Thee Fish Bowl on Dempster. He became a member of the youth group at the Unitarian Church of Evanston, along with dear friends Tyler Duston and Dave Schwartz (and so many others). With this cherished family of friends, Tom would attend the UU Lake Geneva Summer Assembly for nearly 30 years. Dave and Tom formed a musical duo called “Frog and Toad” in those years, with Ty joining them as “Newt” from time to time – playing to the packed coffee house at LGSA, Norris Center at Northwestern University, and every Saturday night at the Time Out lounge at the Evanston Holiday Inn. Tom was often fond of saying that he started dating Lizzie in high school, but she didn’t start dating him until college – and his immediate and (at the time) unlikely premonition that he and Lizzie would one day marry came true when the two wed in November of 1998 at the Unitarian Church of Evanston. Lizzie and Tom would have many adventures together over the years, including a trip to Scotland with Nora in 2017, and many unforgettable trips to Seattle and Butte, Montana to visit friends Doug and Megan and their army of well-loved Samoyeds. With his parents, Tom was a three-legged stool book production team, working for and eventually buying Adams Press in 1998. The family business specialized in small publishing houses, with Tom acting as designer and typesetter. They helped authors produce textbooks, business books, fiction, memoirs, and children’s books on a wide range of budgets and print run sizes. Tom also had a side-hustle publishing client websites using WordPress. A die-hard Cubs fan, Tom and his daughter Nora played baseball in the back yard, and he briefly got her into collecting baseball cards. The two enjoyed annual school supplies and stocking stuffer excursions, with a Taco Bell stop added into the mix once he decided she was old enough that the food wouldn’t harm her. Nora also briefly took up the accordion to follow in Tom’s footsteps, to Lizzie’s great entertainment. Evenings at the dinner table were filled with goofiness, laughter, and sometimes musical interludes on plates and glasses. Every day when Nora was off to school, Tom would give her a bright “Have a Ducky Day!” “Have Ducky Dreams!” saw her off to bed at night. Tom was notorious for composing songs, jingles, and ditties for random life events: a stuffed animal that looked funny, taking a different route to school in the morning, making a sandwich, etc. Above all, Tom was a remarkably kind person and was one of the funniest people folks have had the pleasure to know. Tom celebrated eight years of sobriety in the fall of 2025 and made many cherished friends through his recovery communities. Beloved husband of 28 years (together for 37) to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Allen Kepler (nee Stukey). Devoted father of Eleanor "Nora" Cady Kepler (partner Ian) of Texas. Cherished only child of James Alan Kepler and the late Ann Linda Kepler (nee Overtree), formerly of far Northeast Rogers Park. Tom was predeceased by Gabrielle (the little white cat), Lovecraft, Jenny Linsky, and his beloved Mira dog. He is survived by his faithful pet companions Fogo the jet-black, 70lb standard poodle (really Tom's dog), Minnie the chihuahua/beagle mix (really Lizzie's dog), and his Grand-dog, Fajita. He also leaves behind countless dear human friends, including his lifelong best friend, Eric Fine. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Thomas Kepler

April 6, 1971 - March 12, 2026