Thomas Lee DeMeuse

Thomas Lee DeMeuse, 77, Tom passed away peacefully at home in Wisconsin Rapids from esophageal cancer on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

He was born August 30, 1947, at the Algoma Hospital on Mill St in Algoma WI. Tom had turned blue at birth and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by his great grandmother, Emogene Perry, who was the nurse at the time. His parents were Orville DeMeuse and Jean (Perry) DeMeuse.

The family attended St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Algoma. Tom attended 1st – 8th grades at St Paul’s school. He graduated from Algoma High School in 1965. He spent one year in Madison attending the university.

In 1966 he attended Milwaukee Institute of Technology. He graduated with an associate degree with honors in Automotive Mechanics in 1968. He then went to work for Seiler’s Oil & Tire Company in Algoma.

In January of 1972 Tom joined the Algoma Volunteer Fire Department which began an almost 50-year career in the fire service. He took night classes from Northeast WI Technical Institute in fire technology, graduating with honors in Fire Science.

Over the next 10 years he became a licensed WI Master Plumber, a licensed WI Building Inspector and a licensed WI Fire Science Instructor. He was named the Instructor of the Year in Fire Science in 1992.

Starting in 1989 Tom served the City of Algoma as Fire Chief for 5 years. Following that he was Fire Chief for 13 years for the Village of Shorewood Hills in Madison WI.

Tom dedicated almost 50 years to the fire service, first as a volunteer firefighter, then as chief in Algoma and Shorewood Hills plus many other facets of the service. After retirement he continued to do pump testing in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan. He was liked and respected throughout the state as an excellent, knowledgeable teacher and good friend.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents: Orville & Jean DeMeuse, Linda (Guth) DeMeuse, Birdie (Sogge) DeMeuse, his granddaughter, Amelia, and his nephew, John.

Tom will be deeply missed by his wife of 18 years, Jennifer (Jef); children: Scott (Katie), Shelly Soquet (Tracy), Jeff (Alison); step-children: Sheri Pagenkopf (Buddy), Steve Sogge, Aaron Anderson (Joy) and Rebeccah Stay (Matt); grandchildren: Mollie, Haddie, Moriah, Emma, Calen, Abel, Austin, Brett, Brady, Nova and Luken. He will also be deeply missed by his brother, Mike (Beth), nephews David (Alice) and Robbie (Helen) and various nephews and nieces scattered throughout the world.

A visitation will be held at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services – Algoma, 1617 Flora Ave, Algoma, WI 54201, on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 3-7 pm with a closing prayer service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the funeral home from 9:00 – 11:00 am with a funeral service at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Clay Banks Cemetery. Online condolence messages may be shared at KinnardFCS.com.