Obituaries: Thomas Kaiser, 68, Business Owner
Published Saturday, September 20, 2003
By Rhonda Gentle
The Ledger

LAKELAND -- Mr. Thomas David Kaiser had a concern for children that extended well beyond concern just for his own.

"Children were first and foremost in his heart," said his son, Kenton Thomas "Tom" Kaiser of Lakeland.

"Dad would get upset when he read stories in the paper about children living in poverty," Kaiser said. "He wanted to make sure that kids had what they needed."

The retired owner and operator of Douglass Screen Printing Inc. died of kidney failure Monday (Oct. 28, 2002) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 68.

Born in Briceville, Tenn., on March 25, 1934, his childhood was spent in rural Tennessee during the Great Depression.

Mr. Kaiser's lifelong interest in sports developed while attending high school, where he played baseball, basketball and football.

"He probably could have played small college football somewhere, but instead, he went into the service," Tom Kaiser said.

Mr. Kaiser served in the Army as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division during the 1950s, where he achieved the title of master parachutist.

"He was very proud that he was a special forces soldier. He had a medallion made of gold of his parachute wings that he wore around his neck," Kaiser said.

Following his discharge, he lived for a year in Cleveland, where he attended the Cooper School of Art, before coming to Lakeland 42 years ago.

Mr. Kaiser worked for L.J. Douglass at his printing business before purchasing the business from him and changing the name of the business to Douglass Screen Printing Inc.

He operated the business for more than 30 years before his daughter acquired the business and Mr. Kaiser retired in the early 1990s.

He was active with many youth organizations both financially and with his time. He was instrumental in founding the YMCA on Cleveland Heights Boulevard, where he served as a board member.

"He wanted the kids to have a place to go that didn't have anywhere to go," Tom Kaiser said.

He also said his father put a big emphasis on the value of education and was proud of the fact that all three of his children obtained college degrees.

He was a former board member and coach of the Medulla Dixie Youth Baseball. He was a former member of the Lakeland High School Century Club. He was an avid Gator fan and a sponsor of the University of Florida athletic programs.

In addition to being a sports enthusiast, Mr. Kaiser was an avid outdoorsman.

"He got my brother and I involved in the outdoors at a young age, taking us on fishing and hunting trips from the Florida Keys to Washington state to Virginia to everywhere," Kaiser said.

"We took family vacations every year," he said. "Dad made sure that we experienced everything there was in every single state in the United States."

After his children were grown, he and his wife enjoyed taking trips to places such as Europe, the Middle East, Canada, the Caribbean and Hawaii, and the couple had planned to visit Australia this summer, but because of failing health, were not able to go.

Mr. Kaiser was past president of the Lakeland Sertoma. He was a contributor to numerous local social service agencies. He was a member of the Grasslands Golf and Country Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall, where he served as a deacon.

In addition to his son, Mr. Kaiser is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathryn J. Kaiser; daughter, Lisa Kaiser Hickey, Lakeland; son, Mark David Kaiser, Lakeland; brother, Joseph M. Kaiser, Ravenna, Ohio; sister, Kay Ellis, Lakeland; and 11 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Heath Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church at the Mall, 1010 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland. Graveside services with military honors will be in Oak Hill Burial Park.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church at the Mall, 1010 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33801.