Toufik Tanous

TOUFIK'S OBITUARY
Toufik (Tom) Tanous, 79, a resident of the Forest Grove community, passed away on April 29, 2021 in
Forest Grove, Oregon.

Toufik was born on January 27, 1942 in Jish, Israel. He was the fifth of six children born to Zakaria and
Alya (Turkeye) Tanous. He was raised in Jish and as a very young man began working in the
construction industry as a pipefitter/welder. He came to the United States to visit his brother, Shafik,
in 1976 and liked it so much that he found work and stayed. He became a naturalized citizen in 1983.

He met his future wife, Suzanne Rust, by chance at a favorite gathering place in San Diego, California.
They soon began dating and the following year they married on June 17, 1978 in Highland, California.
They had three children and made their home in San Diego until April of 2020 when they moved to
Forest Grove, Oregon to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Toufik was a welder and pipefitter most of his life. He was a proud member of the United Association of
Plumbers, Steamfitters and HVAC/R Local 230 in San Diego for over 26 years. His trade took him from the
Egyptian gas fields and the Red Sea, all the way to the shipyards of San Francisco, the geothermal plants
of El Centro, California, and the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant along the California coast. He retired in
2002.

His life was centered by Church and family. Hosting large gatherings surrounded by family and
friends was a highlight of his life. He loved a good joke and just plain good conversation. He enjoyed
gardening, making things with wrought iron, and fixing things around the house. He volunteered at the
food pantry of his church every Wednesday for over 10 years. He also enjoyed exploring San Diego on
foot with his wife, and a stop for coffee was commonplace. He was always generous with his friends and
family. He was a dedicated and faithful husband and father and adored his grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Shafik and Rafik Tanous.

He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne, three children and their spouses: Alia and Ryan King of
Forest Grove, OR, Zachery and Fiona Tanous of Fort Mill, SC, and Timothy and Amy Tanous of
Beaverton, OR; three siblings: Evelyn, Nahi and Suad in Israel, and seven grandchildren: Vivian, Claire,
Elsie, Katherine, Teagan, Whitley and Wesley; and many nieces and nephews in California, Israel,
Australia and Canada.


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