Tom M. Theige, 83, of Iola, Wis., passed away peacefully on Monday, April 1, 2013.
He was born on March 28, 1930, the eldest of three children to the late Hjalmar and Margaret (Sorenson) Theige of Westby.
He graduated from Westby High School in 1948, and from Luther College in 1955. Tom served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from July 24, 1952, to May 8, 1954, stationed in Pusan. He married Kathleen (Anderson) BJERKE ‘56 on Dec. 28, 1957, in Nelsonville.
Tom started out by selling cookware for the West Bend Company in 1955. In 1957, he became an Area Manager for West Bend in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. In 1973, he and his family moved to Iola, Wis. He worked for Krause Publications for two years in the Western Publications Division. He then began farming and raised Hereford beef cows, grew alfalfa and farmed until his retirement.
Tom was active in Boys Scouts and Lions Club for many years. He loved playing cards, hunting and fishing and spending time at Rolling Stone Lake with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, of 56 years; one son, Jeffery Theige, and two daughters, Julie Dillon and Jill (Dave) Bukowski; six grandchildren, Ivar Dillon, Nils Dillon, Elise Dillon, Emily Bukowski, Michael Bukowski and Jesse Carver; one sister, Sue (THEIGE) BJERKE ’61 (Ron); brother-in-law, Gary (Elaine) Anderson; sister-in-law, Karen (Dennis) Koehler; nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceeded in death by one sister, Marjorie Manske; brother-in-law, Eldred Manske; and father- and mother-in-law, Gerhard and Mary Anderson.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 12, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Iola with the Rev. Dennis Olson officiating. Friends may call on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the Voie Funeral Home in Iola, and then again on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Interment will be in the South New Hope Lutheran Cemetery in the town of New Hope.
Memorials can be sent to Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Iola or a memorial of your choice in memory of Tom.
Register book and online condolences may be sent by visiting: www.voiefuneralhome.com
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