Thomas C. Beane

1946 - 2025

Fort Atkinson, WI - Thomas (Tom) Craig Beane, of Fort Atkinson, 78, passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison after a sudden illness, surrounded by family. He will be remembered for his contribution and devotion to agriculture, dairy farmers, youth, friends, and family.

Born December 2, 1946, in Fort Atkinson, Tom was the son of Craig and Laura (Ouweneel) Beane.

He grew up on the family farm, purchased in 1864 by his German-born great great grandfather and lived there his entire life. Tom attended Sanborn Hill and Royce one-room country schools and Fort Atkinson schools, graduating in the Class of 1964. He attended UW¬-River Falls before drawn home to the farm.

On August 7, 1971, Tom married Kathleen Marie Krause, and together they farmed Holwis Farms for 25 years with Tom's parents. They had many happy adventures there as dairy farmers, hosting farm and city groups, promoting agriculture and the dairy industry, celebrating June Dairy Month, and supporting youth. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage before her passing in 2020.

Throughout his life "Big T" always represented the farmer, willing to stand up to anyone to fight for causes he believed in. After his family's Holstein herd fell victim to stray voltage, Tom began sharing his experiences and knowledge with others facing similar animal-health and milk¬-production problems. He became an independent consultant, traveling throughout the Midwest to hundreds of dairy operations to investigate electrical and herd issues-and often then to courtrooms and legislative halls to present his findings and testify on behalf of farmers. His latest investigation took him to a Wisconsin farm just a few weeks ago.

While Tom enjoyed dairy farming, his true love was troubleshooting, repairing, and restoring equipment of all kinds. His shop was his home away from home, spending hours there most days. As a child he often took apart mechanical alarm clocks just to see if he could make them work again. Then he learned to fix the equipment needed to keep a farm running. Finally, tractors, lawn mowers, and golf carts were his focus. Friends appreciated his willingness to try and fix anything whether it was welding a lawnmower back together, troubleshooting a stubborn engine, or fabricating parts to fix older machinery. To many he defined being a good neighbor.

Tom enjoyed working with young people, from letting them raise their animals at the farm to teaching ag mechanics classes at Jefferson High School. Earlier this year, that school's FFA club honored him as a teacher and mentor, recognizing the hours he spent teaching students about tractor and small engine repair and maintenance.

Tom's farming background and mechanical abilities were an asset to many organizations. Through the years he was an active member, volunteer, and leader of such organizations as Ideal Holstein 4-H Club, Fort Atkinson FFA and FFA Alumni, Jefferson County Agri-Business, Jefferson County Fair, Hoard Historical Museum, Jefferson County Holstein Breeders Association, and National Dairy Shrine.

Tom was proud to be part of the corporation that developed the Jefferson County Fair Park Activity Center. In 1973-74 he and Kathy helped raise $130,000 to build and furnish the Activity Center. As a charter board member he enjoyed watching the Center and the fairgrounds grow to now host hundreds of events and activities year¬-round.

In 1956 Tom's family co-hosted the third¬-ever Wisconsin Farm Progress Days with their neighbors, the Ward family. That began a long family association with the show. Twenty-eight years later, in 1984, Jefferson County again hosted the event and Tom was chairman. Beyond Jefferson county, he was chosen as a member of the first Wisconsin Rural Leadership Class. One of the highlights of that program was visiting China to learn about international trade and development issues.

In April Tom was honored for serving 19 years on the Town of Jefferson Plan Commission. He also served 13 years with Jefferson County Emergency Communications, and in the past he loved working at Madison Classics car shows and swap meets, and driving across the Midwest to deliver used cars for Kearns Motor Car Co.

Among Tom's special passions were International Harvester tractors, fire-engine red trucks, auctions, farm toy shows, a great Friday night fish fry, being a bouncer, grilling for large crowds, watching car races, and attempting to win the county fair's demolition derby in his younger days.

He was raised in St. John's Community Church and was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy, his parents, in-laws, uncles and aunts, and other relatives and friends. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marcia and Perry Baird, Fort Atkinson; Kathy's siblings and their spouses, Mark and Bonnie Krause, Jefferson, and Marilyn and Rick Leccese, DeForest; special nephews and nieces and their families, Colin (Stacey) Baird, Drew (Christine) Baird, Joelle (Adam Sherman) Baird, Peter Krause, Ben (Amy) Krause, and Elizabeth Krause; 12 great nephews and nieces, cousins, and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held on Monday, October 20, at the American Legion Hall, 201 S. Water St. E, Fort Atkinson, with an informal visitation beginning at 9:30 am. A memorial service will be held at 11 am with a luncheon to follow. Tom will be buried at a later date in Ward Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Tom's memory may direct donations to the family to support Jefferson County youth programs, as well as to the recently-established Kathleen Krause Beane memorial scholarship fund held at the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. This fund will benefit Fort Atkinson High School students pursuing post-secondary education in agricultural-related fields. See https://shorturl.at/Ol2dy

Tom's family members appreciate the health professionals who provided compassionate care to him through the years. They especially thank his friends for all their support and kindnesses shown to both Tom and Kathy. We are forever grateful.

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