Frederick Lorenz Thum Jr, 91, of Mount Arlington, NJ passed away on August 15, 2024 at Morristown Medical Center. He was born in Newark, NJ to Frederick L. Thum and Gertrude (Schoenknecht) Thum. Fred was raised along with his three siblings, Barbara, Kurt and Katherine in Union, NJ. He studied Fine Arts at Rutgers University and served in the Army during the Korean War as an art instructor for troops stationed in Japan. Upon returning to civilian life in the US, he spent the majority of his career as a graphic artist with Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) in Summit, NJ. He married Eileen P. Schneider in 1968 and together raised their three children, Kathleen, Karen and Frederick III in Westfield, NJ.

Fred Jr. is predeceased by his parents, Frederick and Gertrude Thum, his sisters, Barbara and Katherine Thum and by his brother Kurt Thum. He is survived by his former wife Eileen P. Thum, his three children, Kathleen (Evangelos Courpas), Karen (Allen Ingling) and Frederick (Sejal Shah-Thum) and by his six grandchildren, William and Eileen Ingling, Maximos Courpas, Satya, Ruhi and Aarav Thum.

Fred was a sensitive, creative and artistic spirit who had tremendous talent in building, woodworking, painting, drawing and sculpture. He was an enthusiastic lover of classical music, identifying various composers by ear. Fred’s artistic talents and creative spirit live on in his three children and six grandchildren.

A funeral service with military honors will be held at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Sunday August 25, 2025 from 2-5pm. The private interment will be held at a later date in Fairview Cemetary in Newark, NJ.

Do not stand
By my grave, and weep.
I am not there,
I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry—
I am not there,
I did not die.

—?Clare Harner, The Gypsy, December 1934