Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA
Published in the "Big Bear Grizzly"
File uploaded 18 Feb 2005

This file is part of the California Tombstone Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/californ.html

Tom Rachels

August 25, 1939 - February 15, 2005

Tom Rachels, Big Bear artist and co-founder of the Community Arts Theater Society (CATS), 
passed away on February 15th at the Kaiser Fontana hospital after a long illness. He was a 
native Californian, born in Los Angeles on August 25, 1939. Tom and his wife Karen 
(better known as "Sarge") first came to Big Bear 22 years ago as weekenders while Tom was 
still working as a sr. graphics illustrator at TRW and Sarge was working for Kenny Rogers. 
They helped form CATS in 1993, and Tom designed and built many of the sets over the years, 
as well doing all the CATS programs until he became too ill. His set work is legendary, 
including designing and constructing a working carousel for the CATS production of the 
popular musical, "Carousel". He designed the CATS logo and the clever "Grin and Big Bear It" 
logo. Tom was also active for many years in the Bear Valley Charcoal Burners, for whom he 
also designed a special logo. During his Big Bear years, the Charcoal Burners and CATS were 
his life.

Tom had a 27-year career with TRW (now Northrop Grumman) in Redondo Beach where his caricature 
skills were utilized along with his drawing skills for many top secret defense projects. One 
of his drawings is on the planet Mars. He designed the logo for the Viking spacecraft which 
was landed on Mars. The Viking Bug was famous in the space world. Tom also created art work 
and merchandise packaging for Kenny Rogers, the Smothers Brothers, Dottie West and Gallagher. 
Some of Tom's drawings were seen on The Tonight Show when Gallagher was a guest host.

In 1987 Tom and Sarge built their home on Lookout Drive, atop a mountain overlooking the lakes 
(both Big Bear and Baldwin). After he suffered a stroke several years ago, he was mostly confined 
to his home but had a great view of the Valley which he enjoyed every day. He is survived by his 
wife, Karen Sargent Rachels ("Sarge") and mother-in-law Jean Schiesser; two daughters, Kari 
Sobisky and Christie Behlke, and stepson Jebin Bruni. He was also a grandfather to Michelle and 
Frank Sobisky, and Alec and Rein Behlke.

Tom was known as a gentle man. He and his many talents and quick smile will be greatly missed by 
his family and friends. There will be no formal memorial service, but a celebration is planned 
for later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CATS in memory of Tom Rachels, 
p. o. Box 400, Big Bear City, CA 92314.