Thomas Meyer

MIDDLETON - Thomas Michael Meyer, 62, passed away due to natural causes on November 7th at his home in Middleton, WI. Thomas is survived by his loving daughters, Kathleen and Martha Meyer, his devoted siblings, Anne (Kevin, deceased) Meyer Lindgren and Michael (Denise) Meyer, his nephews, Kristopher and Justin Lindgren, and his niece, Adrienne Meyer. Thomas will also be missed by his former spouse Mary (Christopher) Henry with whom he remained close until his passing. While his family and friends have been deeply saddened by Thomas' passing, they are taking comfort in the fact that Thomas passed away within hours of arriving back home from Green Bay having watched his beloved Packer's play at Lambeau Field.

Thomas was born to Thomas and Mary Meyer on April 19, 1955 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thomas received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from the University of New Mexico in 1977 and then went on to receive a Masters Degree of Public Administration in 1979 also from the University of Mexico.

In his youth, Thomas worked for a time in the security department at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, NM for which position Thomas held a security clearance and from which employment, Thomas had many stories with which he would entertain family and friends. The mainstay of Thomas' career was in human resources and nurse recruitment. Thomas first worked for Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX and later for Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute in Milwaukee, WI and then for over 10 years at St. Coletta in Jefferson, WI. In more recent years, Thomas had very much enjoyed teaching and was employed as an Associate Professor at Herzing University where he served for a time as the Chair of the Social Studies Department.

Thomas had a warm, gentle and playful personality as well as an active mind which lead him to pursue numerous passions. Thomas was always armed with a ready smile, a story to tell and a theory about how the most recent political machinations in Washington D.C. were likely to play out. Thomas was an avid bee-keeper and maintained a number of hives on his property. Thomas had a lifelong fascination with meteorology and geology and maintained a collection of prized rock specimens in his home. He also had a great enthusiasm for nature in general and the Western United States in particular. Before his mother passed, Thomas greatly enjoyed a family cruise he took with his mother, his children and other relatives to Alaska. Just earlier this year, Thomas had visited the Rocky Mountain National Park as well as Yellowstone National Park where he stayed for a few days at the Old Faithful Inn. Thomas was a regular visitor to the University of Wisconsin gardens and in recent years had shared his crop of tomatoes of various species with family and friends. He also often visited the Memorial Union where he would stop by the Daily Scoop for some Babcock Ice Cream.

However, for Thomas, none of his interests ever rivaled his dedication to his family. Thomas remained very close to his parents until their deaths and was deeply saddened by their passing. There is no question, however, that the greatest joy of Thomas' life was being father to his two daughters. With his oldest daughter, Kathleen, Thomas logged in innumerable hours during her childhood playing with her in the winter woods. With his younger daughter, Martha, he loved playing host to the many friends she would routinely bring home. He also spent many hours fishing with both daughters off of Madison's docks and piers. His children are very grateful that Thomas lived to see them both graduate from college and obtain their first jobs and to meet Kathleen's fiancé, Erik Sorensen. Thomas was always a patient, compassionate, devoted and steadfast parent. While his two daughters will miss him deeply, they have the solace of knowing that nothing went undone or unsaid between them.

Thomas' family intends to hold a memorial service in the coming months and will announce the date well in advance to permit friends and relatives to make travel plans.

Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-8406