Thomas Joseph Clark Sr.

MADISON/LODI/WAUNAKEE-Thomas Joseph Clark Sr., age 93, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Agrace HospiCare surrounded by his wife and seven children. He was born January 5, 1924 in Mason City, Iowa to Vincent and Genevieve (O’Connell) Clark. The family moved to Madison in 1934, where Tom lived until he moved to Lodi in 1973.
Tom attended St. Patrick’s grade school in Madison and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1941. After the start of WWII, he worked at Badger Ordnance in Baraboo until he went into the Army in February, 1943. After basic training he was stationed in Hawaii. In November 1944 he was sent to Europe to join the 272nd Infantry Regiment of the 69th Infantry Division fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, freeing prisoners from Buchenwald Concentration Camp, the first unit to link with the Russians at the Elbe River Torgau Germany. He had the honor of being one of the few to serve in both the POT (Pacific Ocean Theater) and the ETO (European Theater of Operation) in the ground forces. He remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces until 1946. After returning home from military service he worked as a circulation manager for the Milwaukee Journal newspaper in Madison and Beloit.
On October 19, 1946 Tom married the love of his life, Jean Heim at St Raphael’s Cathedral. They celebrated 70 years of marriage.
In 1953 Tom started an apprenticeship to become an electrician. While serving his apprenticeship he worked many part time jobs to support his growing family, including working as a salesman at Sears Roebuck – a part time job he held for 15 years. As an electrician, he worked on many big projects, such as the Columbia Power Plant in Portage, the Atomic Energy Plant in Byron. Illinois, the revamping of the Chrysler Auto Plant in Belvedere, Illinois, and the construction of the UW Hospital.
Tom retired in 1989 after 35 years as a journeyman electrician. After retirement he volunteered electrical work on the building of the Ronald McDonald House in Madison. He was a retired member of IBEW Local 159. In 2004 Tom and Jean moved to Waunakee to their retirement apartment complex.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Gwendolyn (Clark) Wagner, and a stillborn son, Vincent Robert. He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughters, Mary (Ray) Haefner of Fitchburg, Kathleen (Tim) Clark-Werra of Menomonee Falls, Nancy (Michael) Boyd of Madison, Colleen Clark Buss of Waunakee, Ann (Jerry) Mabis of Lodi, and Trisha Clark of Pewaukee; a son, Thomas Jr. of Baraboo; 22 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; special brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Virginia Heim and many nieces and nephews. Tom enjoyed get-togethers with “the troops” as he liked to call his large family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH AT ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH LODI, 521 Fair St., at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 with Father Scott Jablonski presiding. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL HOME, 157 South Main St., Tuesday, August 15, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.
A huge thank you to Dr. Steven Johnson, Dr. Alissa Weber and her team at Sauk Prairie Specialty Clinic, and Agrace HospiceCare, especially Allison Bacon and Melanie Brooks.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Agrace HospiceCare, St Jude’s Children Hospital, Blessed Trinity Parish – Lodi or Badger Honor Flight. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com
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