Arthur E. Thomas

Arthur Thomas's Livestream Service will begin at 11:00 a.m.CT on Monday, June 23, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”

Arthur “Art” Edward Thomas went home to the Lord on February 12, 2025.  He passed peacefully in the presence of family at UW Health after suffering a debilitating fall.

Art was born on April 6, 1937, in Waushara County Wisconsin to Arthur W. Thomas and Katherine A. Thomas (Klick). His parents were German immigrants.  They made their living as dairy farmers for Art’s entire childhood.  He graduated from Berlin High School in 1955 and went on to University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he excelled as pitcher for the baseball team and graduated with a degree in teaching and agriculture.

His career began in construction.  He soon met his wife, Carol; they were married in 1961. Art served our country as a member of the 32nd Red Arrow Division Army Reserves.  After suffering a jeep accident and injury at Fort Lewis in Washington state, he moved to Hayward, Wis., to teach science.  In 1963, shortly after the birth of his first child (Pamela VanDusen) Art was offered a position at Woodworth Junior High in Fond du Lac, Wis.  In 1965, his son, James A. Thomas, was born.   Art taught science to 7th-9th grade students and coached football until Woodworth closed; he completed his teaching and coaching career at Sabish Junior High.

As a science teacher, he was a true fan favorite.  Throughout his dedication as a teacher and coach spanning three decades, he also inspired countless athletes to overcome challenges, to work together as a team and to leave their best efforts on the field - learning from their losses and building on victories.

In 1984 he met his wife, Suzanne “Sue,” a teacher in the Mount Horeb school district.  In addition to their shared enthusiasm for and commitment to teaching, Art and Sue were avid golfers who played regularly. They were also passionate University of Wisconsin fans, rarely missing Badger football and basketball games.  In most recent years, they enjoyed crime drama TV shows, sports, and especially Art’s favorite, the Yellowstone series.  

In much the same way that Art and Sue planted figurative seeds of success for young students, they loved to cultivate seeds in their garden, where we could always find tomatoes growing and roses blooming.  They found great joy in connecting with others, spending quality time in meaningful conversations with friends and family or gathering with them for card games.  Most of all they were devoted to encouraging and cheering for their twelve grandchildren in a wide variety of extracurricular activities including golf, basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, horseback riding, music and dance.    

Art was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Gordon and Jerry Thomas; his wife of 39 years, Suzanne W. Thomas; his son, James; and his nephew, Andrew. Art is deeply missed by his family and friends.

Art was a lifelong Lutheran. We will be celebrating his life at ADVENT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025. Refreshments will follow in the Advent Fellowship Hall.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Madison VA at:cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761