Robert Clayton Thomas, Sr., age 83 of Kenosha, died on Monday, November 7, 2016 at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee.

Born in Laurium, MI, on October 27, 1933, he was the son of the late Henry and Dorothy (Giles) Thomas.

Bob moved to Kenosha after his high school graduation and worked as a floral designer at Turner’s, then Gerlach’s flower shops.

Bob proudly served in the United States Army following the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. He served as a medic and was honorably discharged in 1956.

While working at Gerlach’s, he met the love of his life, Sherry Reindl. She began working at Gerlach’s in the summer of 1965 while studying at UW Oshkosh. She started coming home on weekends to work with Bob at the flower shop. Their first date was in December of 1965; their love blossomed and they were married the following year on Oct 22, 1966 at St. Mary Catholic Church. They created all their floral bouquets and arrangements for their wedding the day before. They recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with family and friends at St Catherine Commons, where they resided.

Bob also worked in the maintenance department at Frost Co. for twenty four years until his retirement in 1997.

He was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and enjoyed traveling with his wife especially to their favorite destination, Door County. His favorite hobbies included creating a beautiful flower garden and knitting prayer shawls. Bob is well known for his strawberry jam, chocolate fudge, his fruit cakes and a variety of cookies. He was a Renaissance man on his own terms.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry; his three children, Rob (Kara) Thomas of Bristol, Ann Marie (Tim) Reyes of Kenosha and Jane (Dan) Johnson of Kenosha along with his five grandchildren, Grace, Grant, Emily, Elizabeth and Abby. Bob is further survived by his brothers and sisters, Ronald, Roberta, Bertin, Rodney, Mary Margaret and Rose Marie along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his siblings, Delbert, Elizabeth Jane and Paula.

Service Info

Funeral Services honoring Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4817-7th Avenue. Relatives and friends are asked to meet at the church for the Mass. Full military honors will follow the Mass at the church.