Thomas O. Kloehn

Tom Kloehn, an attorney and longtime resident of greater Milwaukee who always said that his greatest achievement was his family, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was 86.

Born and raised in Appleton, Wis., Tom graduated from Lawrence College, where, in a medieval history class, he met his future wife, Natalie E. (Schroeder) Kloehn. They were married for 50 years before Natalie’s death in 2007. Tom served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-57, including a tour of duty in Korea. He then attended the University of Michigan Law before clerking for Judge Arthur M. Smith of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals in Washington, D.C. In 1961 he and Natalie settled in Shorewood, where they raised their three children, Barbara (Thomas) Gresik, Ellen (James) Bruno and Steven (Lori) Kloehn.

As a partner at Quarles & Brady, Tom practiced patent law and litigation with a special interest in intellectual property. His professional work fed a lifelong interest in railroad history, including published scholarship. He was also an avid reader; a lover of classical music and longtime supporter of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the United Performing Arts Fund; and a fierce fan of the Green Bay Packers.

He is also survived by grandchildren Andrew Gresik and Julia (Stephen) Roberts; Christine, Jennifer, Gregory and Katherine Bruno; and Joseph and Thomas Kloehn; as well as his brother Richard (Barbara) Kloehn.

Family will greet friends on Saturday, December 15 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4825 N. Wildwood Avenue, Whitefish Bay, followed by the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private for the family. Memorials in Tom’s name may be made to Milwaukee Catholic Home and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.