Leo B. Thomas
Leo B. Thomas, 76, of Johnson Creek, passed away Friday, Oct. 21, surrounded by his loving family, at Aurora Summit Hospital in Summit.
He was born on Dec. 24, 1939, in Gays Mills, to George and Veronica (Sprosty) Thomas. Leo grew up in the Prairie du Chien area. He graduated from Prairie High School in 1957. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he earned his degree in engineering from Pensacola College in Pensacola, Fla., in 1972. While in the Navy over his 21 year career Leo was a Chief Petty officer aboard several Naval Submarines. He served on the Fast Attack Submarine, the Nuclear Submarine, the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine and others.
Leo met the love of his life Thelma Loney while on leave with a “wink of his eye” and she “winked” back and the rest is history. On May 21, 1960, they were married in Prairie du Chien at St. Gabriel Catholic Church.
As a military family they traveled and were blessed with three daughters, and many wonderful travel memories. Leo was a member of St. Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church in Sullivan, Schlesner-Burri American Legion Post 305 Johnson Creek, and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 3709 Beaudoin-Koehler-Draeger in Watertown. Following his 21 years with the Navy, Leo was employed at the Menasha Corporation in Watertown as a Manufacturing Engineer. Leo loved to spend time with his family and enjoyed many hours aboard their boat on Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, and fishing Lake Erie for trophy walleye.
He and Thelma traveled extensively with the high point of their travels going to England, Scotland and Ireland. Leo enjoyed watching the Packers, playing cribbage with his daughter and granddaughter, going on road trips with Thelma and their two “spoiled” Pekingese dogs.
He will be deeply missed by his family. Leo is survived by his wife, Thelma Thomas, of Johnson Creek; daughters Lisa Shuppe, of Jackson, Vicki (John) Block, of Sussex, Pam (Greg) Koeppel, of Helenville; seven grandchildren Sean Conaway, Megan Kubichek, Heather Shuppe, Kristine Becker, Jonathan Block, Trevor Block, Sarah Koeppel; great grandchildren Kali, Clare and Kieran Conaway and Emma Block; sister Georgia Eggleston, of Charlotte N.C.; and brother Terence (Vivian) Thomas, of Prairie du Chien.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Roger Thomas, Richard Thomas, and Peter Thomas; sisters Margaret Braun, Mary Thomas; and one sibling in infancy.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 29, at St. Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church in Sullivan, with the Rev. Thomas Coyle officiating. Burial with full military honors will take place on Monday, Oct. 31, at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Visit www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence or light a candle in his memory.
