Mr. Kenneth J. Thomas

Kenneth J. Thomas, age 86 of Berlin, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the Theda- Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin. He was born on April 9, 1929, the son of the late Benjamin and Leocadia (Ceman) Thomas on the family farm in the Town of Aurora, Berlin. Ken went to school one mile from home at the old Spoehr schoolhouse. He then began working with his father on the family farm. He was drafted into the army in 1952 whereby he fought in the Korean War and returned home in 1954. He met the love of his life, Gretchen M. Viertel and they were married September 4, 1954 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Berlin. They purchased the family farm from his parents and raised their five children there. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years together. Ken also worked in various jobs including Borden Dairy, and finally with the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company until his retirement in 1992. Ken continued to farm until retiring from farming as well, but he always enjoyed a large garden from which they canned bountiful produce (tomatoes, sweet corn and other vegetables). Other interests Ken had were playing cribbage, sheepshead, and poker with family and friends and picking up and cracking out hickory nuts with his wife. He was a very devoted husband, father and grandfather. Ken was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, now currently All Saints Parish of Berlin, where he is a Holy Name Society Member. He is also a member of the Wells-Krause V.F.W. Post 2925 of Berlin. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Leocadia Thomas, brother, James Thomas, sister-in-law Betty, Thomas, brothers-in-law, George Huser and Donald Nigbor; Gretchen’s parents, Carl and Genevieve Viertel, sister-in-law, Charlotte (Sis) (nee Viertel) Mastricola and brother-in law, Norman Viertel and his wife, Lemoyne Viertel. Ken is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Gretchen Thomas of Patriot Place, Berlin; Son, Timothy (Annette) Thomas of West Bend, together with their children, Heather Thomas, Bren don Thomas and Rachel Thomas (Joshua Davis) and Lily Davis; Daughter, Nancy (Donald) Zietlow of Berlin, together with their children, Aaron (Alicia) Zietlow, Nathan, Katie and Carly Zietlow; Son, Steven (Jane) Thomas of Berlin, and their son, Joel Thomas (Makiko Omori); Daughter, Sara (Peter) Sobralski of Berlin, together with their children, Andy (Krista) and Aubrey Sobralski, Jacob (Veronica) and Harlow Jude Sobralski and Luke Sobralski; Daughter, Ann Davis of Oshkosh, together with her children, Theresa Leaming, Kimberly (Ky) Davis and Michele Davis. He is further survived by his sisters, Joan (Jim) Nickolaisen, Rose Huser and Kathleen Nigbor, brothers, Thomas (Judy) Thomas and Lawrence (Phyllis) Thomas, and also his sisters-in-law, Cynthia Viertel, and Donna (Fred) Wessel , brother-in-law, Joseph Mastricola, and also many other relatives and friends. Funeral Services with a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church of Berlin with the Father David Greenfield officiating, and burial will follow in the Saint Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery of Berlin with Full Military Honors conducted by the Wells-Krause V.F.W. Post 2925 of Berlin. Immediately following the cemetery services a lunch and fellowship with the family will be held at the All Saints Catholic Parish Hall and all are invited. Relatives and friend may visit with the family and pay their respects to Ken on Monday, April 27, 2015 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home of downtown Berlin with a Parish Rosary to be recited at 7:45 p.m. and may also visit at the Funeral Home again on Tuesday, April 28th 2015 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., before we leave for the services at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the All Saints Catholic School Endowment Fund in Ken’s memory. The family would like to give special thanks to the Patriot Place of Berlin staff, CHN of Berlin Emergency staff, Appleton Medical Center staff and the Theda- Clark Medical Center of Neenah staff for their special care of our Dad. Mom and all of us loved you and we will miss you Dad, you were truly a great inspiration to us all.

Mr. Kenneth J. Thomas

April 9, 1929 - April 21, 2015