R. Wayne Thomas, age 89, of Kenosha passed away peacefully on Monday, May 29, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 1, 1934, in Kenosha to the late Robert and Elaine (Burnett) Thomas. Wayne lived his entire life on the family farm property in Somers.<\/p>\n
Wayne graduated from St. Catherine High School in 1951.\u00a0 He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957 as a personnel carrier driver in Germany.\u00a0 On October 5, 1957, he married the love of his life, Paula Mueller, and they recently celebrated their 65th<\/sup> anniversary.\u00a0 He worked as a tool and die maker at Gateway Tool and Die, was the lead tool & die maker at Master Tool and later ran his own business, PT Design.<\/p>\n He had many hobbies including coaching boys fast pitch softball in Somers, beekeeping, and gardening, which led to his certification as a Master Gardner.\u00a0 He volunteered countless hours maintaining the flower beds at Brookside Care Center over 10+ years.\u00a0 He was a lifetime member of the Kenosha Hunting and Fishing Club, serving as past president and hunting guide for many years.<\/p>\n He enjoyed downhill skiing and was a member and president of the Ski-Noshans Ski Club.\u00a0 He was a member of the Wilmot Ski Patrol for 35 years, serving many years as slope leader.\u00a0 He enjoyed his annual ski trips to Utah with family and friends.\u00a0 After retirement, he and Paula wintered in southern Utah where they skied daily well into their 80\u2019s.<\/p>\n Wayne was an active member of St. Peter Catholic Parish, where he served as an usher, eucharistic minister, parish council member, and festival co-chair.\u00a0 He was an enthusiastic card player and mastered the games of cribbage, pinochle and sheepshead.<\/p>\n Anyone who knew Wayne knew him to be a man of few words and great integrity.\u00a0 He was a good listener and a kind, generous person.\u00a0 He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and enjoyed spending time with his growing family.<\/p>\n Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Paula and their four children, Mary (Dino Jr.) Laurenzi of Pleasant Prairie, Jayne (Patrick) Perlman of Bristol, Toby (Kathy) Thomas of Pleasant Prairie and Stacy (Patrick) Spracklin of Silver Lake; his nine grandchildren, Kristi (Greg) Stroh, Anthony (Nicole) Laurenzi, Jessie (Mitch Harlan) Laurenzi, J.T. Perlman, Robert (Julia Moss) Thomas, Mitchell Thomas, Lindsey (Alex) Burant, Sydney (Jared) Batchelor and Anna Spracklin.\u00a0 He is further survived by eight great grandchildren, Charlie, Tom, Elsie and Catie Stroh, Dominic Laurenzi, Leo and Henry Burant and Oaklee Batchelor; four sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law and many nieces, nephews and friends.<\/p>\n He was preceded in death by his parents, Elaine and Bob Thomas, his sister, Marilyn Ross and her husband Vernon and his granddaughter, Nicole Spracklin.<\/p>\n The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Wendel Friedl M.D., Dr. Joshua Bloom M.D., Sally Ermay Perez, and the staff at Hospice Alliance for their compassionate care.<\/em><\/p>\n Funeral services with full military honors honoring Wayne\u2019s life will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023.<\/p>\n A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. at St. Peter\u2019s Catholic Church, 2224 30th<\/sup> Ave.<\/p>\nInformaci\u00f3n del servicio<\/h3>\n