John Thome

John D. Thome, "Coach", 69, Howards Grove, passed away with his family by his side on Nov. 4, 2011, at Zilber Family Hospice in Wauwatosa.

John was born on Jan. 8, 1942, to Rosalia Horn Thome and Wilfred N. Thome of Port Washington, Wis. He attended St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1960. During high school, John earned many athletic awards, including all-conference selection in football, basketball, and baseball. He was an all-state selection as a quarterback in football and MVP's as a forward in basketball and as a pitcher on the baseball team. John won Port Washington's Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award in 1960.

John attended UW-Oshkosh and graduated with a BS degree in Secondary Education. While at Oshkosh, he again competed in football, basketball and baseball. He earned ten varsity letters, honors as a MVP co-captain of the football team in 1962 and 1963, and WSUC honors at two positions. In 1988, John was inducted into the University-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame.

John's teaching and coaching career began at Chilton High School where he taught English and coached some basketball plus football. Under his leadership, Chilton's football team won three consecutive EWC championships and amassed a 24-2-1 overall record. During his time at Chilton, John enrolled in the Master's Program at Northern Michigan University, where he earned his Master's Degree in health, recreation, and physical education. It was also at Chilton High that John met his wife, the former Darlene Freimund, also an English teacher. The couple married July 27, 1968.

In 1967, John was hired as an associate professor, assistant athletic director, and head football coach at Lakeland College. His accomplishments at Lakeland included winning nine football conference championships with an overall record of 78-53-2, making him the winningest coach in Lakeland's history. He was a six-time conference coach of the year and a three-time NAIA coach of the year nominee. While at Lakeland, John also helped coach basketball and track and won four conference titles while coaching baseball. John is an honored member of the Lakeland College Muskie Hall-of-Fame.

In 1983, John became a physical education professor and defensive coordinator at Illinois Benedictine College. Eventually, he retired to Wisconsin and to high school athletics. He continued to be involved in high school football in the Sheboygan county area as a member of the coaching staffs at Elkhart Lake, Kiel, Oostburg, Plymouth, and Howards Grove. John even assisted for two years at Lakeland. His achievements include an overall thirty-one year collegiate and scholastic football coaching record of 181-110-3, a 63% winning percentage. On March 31, 2001, he was formally inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2006, John retired from physical education teaching and golf coaching at Howards Grove High School, which won five conference golf championships and two state titles.

John's other activities included years as a recruiter, WIAA basketball official, football camp counselor and coach, football clinician, motivational speaker and adjunct professor for McPherson College. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing softball, and as his health declined, he valued being a spectator at sports events. He was a member of the State and National Education Associations, the Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Association, the National "O" Club, the Sheboygan Old-Timers' Baseball Organization, and the National and State Football Coaches Assoc's. John was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elkhart Lake and a member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters and Catholic Knights.

John was a "people person". His friends, students, and athletes were always important to him; and even during his personal challenges, he often was able to keep his sense of humor and positive attitude. Most of all, John loved time spent with his family, and he especially enjoyed being "Papa" to his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Darlene, "Coach" John is survived by two sons and a daughter and their families. They are, Jon (Trudy), and their sons, Jonathan and Grant, Plymouth; Craig (Sara), and their son and daughter, Drew and Paige, Oak Creek; and Trecia (Jon) Shane, and their children, Tyler, Abby and Rachel, Menomonee Falls. He is further survived by a sister-in-law, Janice Moynihan and a brother-in-law, David (Kris) Freimund, as well as by other relatives and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (94 N. Lincoln, Elkhart Lake) at 2 p.m. with the Very Reverend Dennis E. Van Beek officiating. Friends may call on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Zimmer's Westview Funeral and Cremation Care Center (Hwy 42 & JJ, Howards Grove) from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Entombment in Holy Cross Mausoleum. A memorial fund has been established in the name of John D. Thome.

The family would like to thank all the health care professionals who gave care and support to John and his loved ones over the years.

Please visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com to send email condolences.