Thomas Kohnen enjoyed 22 years of pleasant family life in his home town of Bottrop, West Germany. He grew up like most kids in West Germany. For him and every other boy on the block, his dream was to become a soccer player until his coach determined Thomas had to have two left feet. He had normal grades and finished high school at age 15 in May of 1977. (Fifteen is the standard age for completing school in Germany.) In August of the same year, he took an apprenticeship as a Konditor (Confectionist) at the Franz Bergendahl Bacherrei. It was the biggest bakery in town and very well known for its disciplined training procedures. He worked as an apprentice for three years while also attending trade school. He became a tested and proven journeyman, learning his trade from A to Z. At age 19 he joined the German Navy for 15 months (mandatory military service is required of all young men in Germany). He left as Lance Corporal.