Thomas (Tom) John Goetz. Deceased June 22, 2024

Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 26, 1927. He grew up on the south side of Chicago. In his youth he worked in the family's coal and ice hauling business. He grew up in a neighborhood surrounded by aunts and uncles.

While in his senior year at Tilden Tech High School, he enlisted in the US Army on his eighteenth birthday, February 26, 1945. He was shipped out to Japan on VJ day, Victory in Japan, September 2, 1945. He spent his time in the service as a sanitation inspector with the rank of Technician 5th Grade. He was honorably discharged on December 1, 1946.

After discharge, he returned to his family home in Chicago. He soon discovered that his parents had moved to Kansasville, Wisconsin and opened the Goetz Tavern. In October, 1952, he started Tom Goetz Trucking, later known as Comat Trucking. After 20 years, he sold the business and eventually opened Tom's Services in Union Grove in 1984.

He sold the station in 1999 and went to work for Lakeview Specialty Hospital and Rehab in Waterford, Wisconsin to take care of their fleet vehicles. He finally retired in 2013.

In his retirement, he continued to be active in various community organizations: Lions Club, (Melvin Jones Fellow), VFW Post 7924 as a Vice Commander and the Knights of Columbus as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator.

He was the last of them all. He was preceded in death by his partner in life, his wife of 65 years, Luetta (Christman), His younger brothers, Walter (Joanne) and Bernard (Mae) and his parents Thomas G and Anna (Spevak) Goetz. He is survived by his seven children: Judith (Rick) Seymour, Brian, Deb, Gerard (Lori), Karl (Kelly), Katherine (Tom) Kassulke and Paul (Xiao); Grandchildren: Jodi (Mark) Riehle, Cory (Angie) Goetz, Sarah (Dan) Nelson, Jill Fennell, Kevin Fennell, Landon, Faith, Zachary (Veronica Gomez) Graceffa, Dana (Imad Lafrikh) Graceffa, Kira (William) Campbell and HanHan/Tom; Sixteen great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.

Our thanks to Comfort Keepers for taking care of our dad while in his home; Arbor View Assisted Living, Burlington, WI; Village at Manor Park Rehab, Milwaukee, WI. Our dad spent his last week on earth at Aurora Zilber Family Hospice. They took exceptional care of him and our family while he was in residence. Thank you all for what you did for us. It was a gift.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to St Robert Bellarmine Church, Union Grove. WI; Knights of Columbus, Lions Club International and Aurora Zilber Family Hospice, Wauwatosa, WI.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, June 27 from 5 pm - 7 pm at the funeral home. Additional visitation will take place Friday, June 28 from 10 am - 11 am at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church with a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11. Private burial and full military honors will take place at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery at a later date.