John Patrick Thomas Jr MD

October 18, 1942 – February 28, 2025
With heavy hearts and cherished memories, we announce the peaceful passing of John Patrick Thomas, Jr, MD, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, of Wauwatosa, WI. Known affectionately as Dr. T to many pediatric cardiology patients and as Jack by childhood friends and extended family, John passed away on February 28, 2025 at the age of 82 following a year-long struggle with leukemia.
John was born to parents Ethel and John P. Thomas, Sr. in his much loved hometown of Helena, MT. He was a proud graduate of Cathedral High School and Carroll College (both in Helena) and Marquette University School of Medicine in Milwaukee (now the Medical College of Wisconsin).
While in medical school, John met his beloved wife, Anna Catherine (Gosein), at St. Mary's Hospital, and their 57 years of marriage began in 1967.
From 1969-1971, he served in the US Army as captain and physician in Viet Nam, was awarded the Bronze Star and multiple medals for his courage, frontline medical care and leadership, and received recognition from the Vietnamese government for health services provided to rural communities.
For over 50 years, he was a singularly devoted and gifted physician to legions of pediatric cardiology patients and their families through his practice at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and his private practice in later years. John viewed medicine as his vocation and was dedicated to providing conscientious, ethical, hands-on, round-the-clock care to his patients.
John is survived by his wife Anna (Anne) and children John M. Thomas (Tatiana) of Charlotte, NC, Kathryn (Kate) K. Thomas (Erik Steffens) of Vashon Island, WA, and Andrea (Andi) M. Thomas (Michael Heffron) of Oconomowoc, WI. He took great pride and delight in his children and especially in his six grandchildren - Colin, Vaughn, Blanca, Julianna, Katherine Rose and Maia.
He will be deeply missed by so many including his sister Kathy Wentzel; brothers-in-law Frank Gosein, Ron Ross and Craig Wentzel; sister-in-law Brenda Gosein; niece Terri (Greg Augustine) and nephews Michael Ross (Rhonda), Eric Wentzel (Angelina), Bryan Wentzel (Joy), and Kevin Wentzel. He will also be remembered by the Thomas and Larson family cousins, as well as numerous classmates, friends, colleagues and patients whose lives he touched. John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Susan Ross.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 14 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Becker Ritter Funeral Home in Brookfield. On Saturday, March 15, visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 am and funeral mass at 11:00 am at St. Joseph's Congregation in Wauwatosa.
In honor of John's life purpose, which centered around acts of service and his generous support for numerous organizations, we kindly ask that in lieu of flowers you consider donating to a charity of your choice, reflecting his strong belief in giving back to the community. Among those most near and dear to him were the Repairers of the Breach (repairers.org) where he volunteered post-retirement to provide care to adult homeless and underserved patients, the Hunger Task Force, St. Joseph's Congregation in Wauwatosa, the Mitchell Park Domes, or the Boerner Botanical Garden.