Tom Grzesiak working on a new project
LAKEVILLE, Ind. - While Susan Hartzell heals from a broken foot, she'll use a cane to get around…but not just an ordinary cane.
It's a work of art that gets noticed.
"First of all, they say, oh I love your cane, where'd you get it. I say oh, you can't buy them," says Susan, one of the cane recipients.
That's because it was made just for Susan by her friend from church...Tom Grzesiak.
"You go into our church. You look around and that person has a 'Tom' cane, and that person has a 'Tom' cane, it's just nice, it's almost like it makes our community even more of a community," explains Daphne Krizmanich, another one of Tom's close friends.
And it's not just church; he gives them to neighbors too.
Dan Cook served with the 82nd Airborne; he's given some of Tom's canes away to other vets, and Tom doesn't mind at all.
"He said 'Tom I gave that cane away to a veteran,' I said I'll just make you another one if you want to give that one away, I didn't get a chance to serve my country...because of health problems," says Tom Grzesiak, "I just want to show my appreciation what they have done for America as far as given up their lives or their time."
om has learned to take his time with his craft; he has to because Tom has Parkinson's disease.
"I'm not having a very good day as you well know, I'm usually a little calmer," he tells Tricia Sloma.
"it's a terrible condition. I've joined a group. Some people advance real quickly while other people take 20-30 years. Thank goodness mine's a slow process," says Tom.
That still requires careful attention when working with very sharp tools. Tom gets some help from his mentor and friend, carver Bruce Downs.
"He may be shaking coming in, but when it comes to putting a tool in his hand he is very relaxed and calm and can carve without shaking...it's amazing," says Bruce.
Tom does have to call on Bruce to do some of the detail work such as eyes, or in Craig Hartzell's case, a Corvette.
"He made it after a '66 Corvette. I'm looking and by golly, he didn't miss a detail," says Craig.
There are things that are easier to carve for Tom than others, like flowers. Connie Cook, Dan's wife, has one of the flower canes.
"This is just a rose. It's just beautiful. I think named for his mama Rose."
95 year old Rose Culp is also amazed at her son's talents.
"I don't know how he learned this carving business; he came up one day with a beautiful cane. Don't tell him I said this but he's been a real blessing," says Rose, Tom's mother.
A blessing indeed, and to so many people. He gives away his canes away, and expects nothing in return.
"I've tried to pay him, but you can't pay Tom. He just does it out of the love of his heart," Susan mentions.
"I enjoy doing it and making people smile," explains Tom.
Tom says the canes are his therapy.
"I have to thank God for giving me a gift even though I have a bit of a situation, it opens my eyes and that's one day closer that I've beat Parkinson's. As long as God's giving me the will, I'm going to proceed on and I have to thank Jesus for the inspiration."
To watch video:
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Generous-man-gives-back-to-the-community-through-a-special-talent-448795113.html
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