Glenn Thomas

Glenn Michael Thomas died of a broken heart on Sunday, March 14th, 2021 both literally as the result of a failed heart surgery and metaphorically as he had to leave his beloved family behind.

Glenn was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on March 26th, 1957 to Kathleen and Harold Thomas as the second of six children. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Thomas, his three children: Devon, Kyle, and Connor, his parents, his siblings Paul (Patty) Thomas, Peter (Forough) Thomas, Kathy (Michael) Karlovich, James (Angel) Thomas, and Karen (Rob) Gillis, his sister-in-law Ellen (Stan) Inman, his ‘second-wife’ Althea Washington, his beloved Lemond bike, and ‘the dumbest dog alive,’ Peanut.  Also left to celebrate his life are many precious nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and other friends and family.

Glenn’s work ethic was instilled at a young age when he began working with his brothers, his sister, Karen, father, and Uncle Johnny at the family business, Thomas Brothers Painting. And, although there was equal amounts drinking and ‘acting like jackasses’ as there was actually painting, he was able to successfully put himself through school. He received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Kean University in 1985 and although he never pursued a career in education, he became a teacher and father-figure to all of the children that he coached throughout his 16 years of recreational soccer.

After dating during their college years, Glenn proposed to Kathy on top of Hurricane Mountain in the Adirondacks.  Having made her hike for several hours, she was too tired to say no and here we are 35 years later. They tied the knot on May 10th, 1986 and made it truly official by dancing ‘The Big Butt Dance’.  They then relocated to Wisconsin to be closer to family (who quickly bailed on them and escaped back to the East Coast) and they found themselves at home in Madison.

After years of trying they gave birth to a perfect angel (or so she thinks she is), Devon Marie Thomas in 1995.  And despite her desire to remain an only child, they continued to expand their family; two years later, they welcomed their son Kyle Daniel Thomas, born with a hole in his heart who would eventually survive open-heart surgery.  And although our family was only gifted one heart surgery-related miracle, Glenn would have wanted it to be Kyle, not himself. After Glenn negotiated Kathy down from 10 kids, they capped it out at 3 in 2003 with Connor James Thomas.

There was no shortage of great memories and experiences between Glenn and his family, including trips to Cape Cod, high energy fishing trips with Peter, relaxing chats by the bay with Paul (aka Tubby); Glenn becoming the first godparent to his sister Kathy’s first child, and the super special bond he had with his youngest sister, Karen.

As we turned to a new millennium, Glenn turned to a new hobby: training and competing in triathlons with his brother Jim. For the next two decades, the brothers would ruin every family vacation by making their families plan fun activities around their long bike rides.

In 2006, Glenn successfully finished the Ironman triathlon despite being sabotaged by his own calf cramps in mile 4 of the marathon portion. Glenn continued to be an avid triathlete and biker until his death (Just ask the UW Hospital nurses; he made sure that everyone on his floor was aware that he had ridden 80 miles on Halloween with his biking buddy Roger).

Despaired by a lack of good New York style pizza in the Midwest, Glenn set out to create the perfect ‘cellular structure’ pizza; and he succeeded. Besides cooking, his other hobbies included fishing, basketball, hiking, wood working, and working out.

He worked at Brunsell Lumber Company starting in 2007 as an Outside Sales Representative where he developed long term friendships with coworkers and clients. He also started his own drafting business that he operated by himself for over 35 years.

Glenn was a father first, best, and most. He was a father to his children, a father-figure to his nieces, nephews, soccer teams, and the neighborhood kids. Best known for being strict but kind, fiercely insistent on making every kid feel included and important, and giving the best advice when asked the hardest questions. His best remembered quote was, “It’s not the outcome, it’s the effort.”

At the Pearly Gates, ready to welcome Glenn, are his Uncles Johnny, Bill, Gerard, Charlie, and his Aunts Marge, Geraldine, and Phylis.

“It's rainin' but there ain't a cloud in the sky

Musta been a tear from your eye

Everything'll be okay

….Waitin' on a sunny day”

-Bruce Springsteen