Thomas R. 'Tommy' Kuehn

Madison- Thomas Robert ""Tommy"" Kuehn, age 24 of Madison, died on Thursday, January 13, 2011, after a brief and sudden illness.  He was born on November 30, 1986 at St. Mary 's Hospital in Madison, to Thomas A. and Jill (Harris) Kuehn.  Tommy was currently employed as a research assistant for Dr. Benny Iskandar and Dr. Josh Medow, in the Department of Neurosurgery at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.  Driven and talented, Tommy quickly became a shining star among his coworkers.  This winter he was studying for his medical school exam to be taken in March.  Tommy graduated in 2010 from UW-Madison with a bachelor's degree in biology.  He graduated in 2005 from Stoughton High School with honors, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He performed with the renowned Norwegian Dancers.  While at UW-Madison, Tommy was a member of the UW Badger Cheerleading Squad and he enthused countless fans at Badger basketball and football games, both at home and away.  Throughout high school and college, he worked at Coachman's Golf Resort in Stoughton in the pro shop. He played on the Stoughton High School golf team, and was an avid golfer and basketball player.  Tommy touched our lives with his powerful and positive spirit.  He shared a loving and encouraging smile to everyone he met. The many messages we have received share a common theme that Tommy was ""sweet and kind,"" ""one of the nicest guys around,"" ""a gentleman,"" ""amazing,"" ""helpful,"" ""genuine,"" ""smart,"" ""resourceful,"" ""happy,"" ""inquisitive,"" ""fun,"" ""caring,"" and ""inventive.""   If you knew Tommy, you became a better person through knowing him.  He was a great friend and will forever beloved and missed by all.  The light he brought to our hearts is darkened by his loss.  Tommy is survived by his parents Thomas A. and Jill (Harris) Kuehn; a sister Nicole Kuehn (Andy) Toso of Stoughton; grandparents, Thomas and Phyllis (Gunderson) Harris of Beloit; paternal aunts and uncles, Ginny (Dennis) Sheahan of Columbia, SC, Sandy (Tom) Wittmayer of Verona, Donald (Gloria) Kuehn of FortMills, SC, Judy (Michael) Lynch of Tucson, AZ, William Kuehn of Columbus, OH, James (Debby) Kuehn of Madison, Joseph (Liz) Kuehn of Madison, Mary (Joseph) Kobussen of Stoughton, Ruth (Bix) Olstadt of Verona, Charles Kuehn of Seattle, WA, Joan Kuehn of Madison, Lynn (Lawrence) Lynch of Madison: maternal aunts and uncles, Jeff (Becky) Harris of Beloit, Janet Harris of Janesville and Northampton, MA, Jay (Trisha) Harris of East Troy and Jacqueline Harris of Stoughton.  He is further survived by 33 cousins, 962 Facebook friends, his favorite dog Bella, neighbors and the countless thousands of Badger fans he loved to cheer for.  He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Catherine and Clarence Kuehn; and uncle, Robert Kuehn.   Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 17, 2011, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Stoughton, with Monsignor Gerard Healy and Tony Schumacher officiating.  Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon immediately following the services, in the church fellowship hall.  Inurnment will be held at a later date.   Friends may call from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME in Stoughton, and from 10 a.m. until time of services on Monday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Tommy Kuehn Memorial Fund, c/o  Wells Fargo, 911 West Main Street, Stoughton, WI 53589.  Tommy's motto:  ""Think. Invent.  Design.""