Thomas Manning Lewis

Thomas Manning Lewis was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 10, 1942, to Kathryn Jeanette (Rogers) Lewis and Carroll Edgar Lewis. Tom was the third of eight children raised by “Kay” and “Tom Sr” in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The memories of growing up by the Chain of Lakes, riding his bike, fishing and playing ball with friends and enjoying his dog, Freckles, brought Tom great comfort in recent years.

He was very active in high school: played the trumpet, was Homecoming King and excelled in lots of sports as quarterback in football, guard in basketball and catcher in baseball. He and his two brothers, Tim and Mike, always joked and jabbed each other about who was the best athlete, so we will put it in print for all to see: Tom was the best.

He signed up for the Navy when he was still 17 thinking his dad would object, but that didn’t quite go as planned. Tom was stationed at Quantico in Virginia as a medic. He often talked about how lonely it was being so far away from home. When on leave, he hitchhiked all the way back to Wisconsin, always grateful to the long haul truck drivers that helped him get home.

After the service, Tom attended UW Oshkosh and UW Milwaukee but finished his degree at University at Oshkosh proudly graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He was promptly offered a job in the social studies department at Horlick High School in 1970, where he taught his entire career until his retirement in 1999. He eventually received his Masters in Education from Carthage College.

He loved teaching and was a very popular and well respected teacher among students and staff alike. He was known for his breadth of knowledge, his humor, his mounds of beautiful hair and, at one point, his saddle shoes. Tom was proud that he experienced teaching so many bright, hard-working students. He was able to reach students that could have been potential dropouts as well.

During the course of his 30 years of teaching Tom taught a variety of subjects ( history, sociology, economics, psychology) but loved U.S. history the most, especially the Civil War period and anything to do with Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. He loved to read and could have as many as 3 books lying around the house with bookmarks strategically placed: a mystery, a sports book, and, of course a book with a historical theme.

Tom married Mona Goss on November 3, 1979 in a small wedding that was probably the shortest service ever and he promptly wiped the lipstick off his mouth after their kiss to the great delight of the audience. Tom and Mona laughed about that for the next 45 years as love, laughter and hard work helped them grow in maturity and devotion. Tom and Mona were blessed to have their only child, Meredith Sarah Lewis on October 6, 1982. She was his special girl from birth. A true daddy’s girl. For her whole life his eyes always lit up when she was around. Meredith rounded out Tom’s number of children to six, five were born from his previous marriage: Kip, Colin, Cara, Katie, and Casey. He was proud of all of them and several went on to become teachers also.

Tom’s hobbies included tennis, bowling and golf. He was an assistant swim coach at Horlick and for many years he was the starter/official for swimming and diving meets locally and at the state level.

Tom has always loved music and going to concerts with notable mentions of Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, John Denver and old 50’s/60’s music and anything Motown. Tom and his siblings and Kay, the matriarch, loved to play poker (with bets!) during holiday gatherings, and in later years they all liked going to the casinos, a tradition that Tom and his sons carried on. Besides books, music, and the Packers/Cubs Tom loved horse racing, especially trips to Keeneland Race Track in Kentucky.

When Tom retired from teaching he continued to work at Racine Country Club as golf supervisor and golf caddy master. He reinvigorated the caddy program and the Evans Scholar program there. Several caddies won tuition-free scholarships to UW Madison thanks to Tom’s efforts with the Evans program. He was very proud of that. Tom, his brothers, sons and relatives began to play golf each summer after Tom Sr. passed. They called it “The Lewis Open” and even had a traveling trophy. Among Tom’s favorite memories with the Lewis clan were several annual fishing trips to Ely, Minnesota where he loved fishing and enjoying those shore lunches and, of course, playing poker.

Tom loved his wife, Mona, enormously and was so proud of her and supportive of all of her theatrical endeavors. Tom and Mona complemented each other well and their bond was a strong one. Even late into his dementia he was able to still tell her he loved her.

What Tom would like most is to be remembered as simply a good, decent person, a good teacher and a loyal husband, father and friend to his family… and he always wanted people to think he was funny. He learned from his mistakes, hurt easily, forgave and tried not to hold grudges. He was intelligent, fun and a proud, private man. He was so very loved and will be so missed. Always.

Surviving Tom are his wife, Mona, and children: Christopher “Kip” (Diane) Lewis, Colin (Yolanda) Lewis, Cara Lewis, Katie (Bob) Pulda, Casey Lewis and Meredith Lewis. Siblings: Tim (Bev) Lewis, Mary (Dave) Pohl, Mimi (Pat) Meighan, Patsy Mittelstaedt and Michael (Solange) Lewis, brother-in-law Allen (Martha) Goss, Jamie (Marie) Goss and many relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, sister Carole Louise Lewis, sister Elizabeth Jane Davies, brother-in-law Paul Oliver Mittelstaedt, brother-in-law Dan Goss, sister-in- law Carolyn Goss, and nieces Stacy Helen Mittelstaedt and Ella Shine Lauritzen-Davies

Mona and Meredith want to extend a huge heartfelt thanks to the nurses and CNAs at Boland Hall, 1West, of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove for their compassionate care and friendship.

Visitation will be at Maresh-Meredith funeral home on Friday, August 16, 4:00-6:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at 6:00. The family will choose an organization later and make a donation in Tom’s name.