Thomas W. Franke
September 04, 1936 - January 20, 2022
Obituary
STOUGHTON - Thomas Wayne “Tom” Franke, 85, of Stoughton, Wis., was born on Sept. 4, 1936, in Wauwatosa, Wis., to Helen and Carl Franke. Tom was one of five children, sister, Barbara (Ron), and brothers, John (Honey), Rob (Sharon) and Jim. Tom passed peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at his home on Lake Kegonsa, surrounded by his loving family.
At the age of 16, Tom moved from Wisconsin to Illinois, where he met his high school sweetheart, Rosemary Doyle. On Nov. 3, 1956, they were married at St. Petronille Church in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Shortly after their marriage, they were deployed to Kaiserslautern, Germany, as Tom was a proud U.S. Army veteran. There, they developed lifelong friendships with their host family. Their first daughter was born in Germany.
Tom and Rosemary went on to have seven children, Julie Joyce (Tonya Greve), Jill Wiesbrock, JoAnne
Retondo, Jennifer Pollitt (Larry) and Judy Miltner (Dennis); and sons, Tommy and Robert (Kim Taylor-Franke). In addition, they have 17 grandchildren, Dan (Courtney), Jennifer, David (Lindsey), Joshua (Nicole), Ashley (Joe), Lindsay (Chris), Justin, Carley, Allie, Alex (Amanda), Rob, Michael, Maggie, Taylor, Tommy, Delainey and Matthew; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Tom enjoyed a 33-year successful career in the printing industry with Wallace Business Forms. The depth of the relationships he formed at Wallace meant the world to him. In his retirement, Tom shared his many talents with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, RSVP (driving clients to appointments), St. Vincent De Paul/St. Ann's, and his most influential position, as a volunteer for MUM-Madison Urban Ministry/Just Dane. During his lifetime, Tom enjoyed fishing trips, golfing, reading and his deep devotion to God and his family.
Tom is survived by his loyal and loving wife, Rosemary, his five (number one) daughters, and his son, Bob. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim, and his son, Tommy (3.5 years old).
Visitation will be held at ST. ANN CATHOLIC PARISH, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton, on Friday, April 8, 2022, at the church from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. A celebration of life and burial will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at ST. MICHAEL CEMETERY, 1109 Warrenville Road, Wheaton, Ill., where he will be laid to rest next to his son. All are welcome to the services in Wisconsin and/or Illinois. Times for Saturday services in Illinois will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Vincent DePaul at St. Ann's in Stoughton, the Madison Urban Ministry/Just Dane or the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago c/o childhood cancer.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Hwy 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590