Thomas Almon Pepper

Thomas A. Pepper, age 73, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. He fought a valiant battle with multiple illnesses related to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War.
The son of Almon and Marie (Klosterman) Pepper, he was born on January 29th, 1951, in Park Falls, Wisconsin. After graduating from Park Falls Lincoln High School, in 1969, Tom enlisted in the US Army. After Basic Combat training in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Tom was shipped to Fort McClellan in Alabama for extensive training in Advanced Infantry. From there he was deployed to Vietnam, where he toured for 11 months with the 101st Airborne Division/Air Mobile (2-327 Infantry), achieving the rank of Specialist, 4th Class. During his tour, he was awarded two Bronze Stars, one with addition of the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and First Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force. He was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Tom was proud to have served his country and, like many Vietnam era veterans, struggled with combat related PTSD. At any gathering he attended, he would seek out his fellow veterans and found great solace in being able to share stories with those who understood.
After his discharge from the military, Tom returned to Park Falls and attended Western Technical College and graduated with a degree in Bio Medical Electronics. Tom moved to Appleton in 1987 to be closer to his sister Sue and was bartending at Dos Bandidos when he met the love of his life, Lisa Vanden Boogard. They married on January 28, 1992, on a beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Tom co-owned Gunny's Bar and was employed at Ray-O-Vac until they shut down their Appleton plant. Tom finished his career as a Quality Engineer at Plexus, retiring in 2016.
Tom was known for his love and expertise in cooking and gardening and enjoyed carpentry work. He was the master of Turkey on the grill during the family camping trips and an invaluable resource when one had questions on things like growing bigger tomatoes or pruning your apple trees. He will be fondly remembered for breaking out and playing his harmonica, at any given time, occasionally finding himself on stage with the band, much to the delight of his audience!
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Lisa; daughters, Sammantha (Jevis) Kuhnke and their children Pierce and Brooks; Paige (David) Pepper; Olivia (special friend Taylor) Pepper. Tom is further survived by his brother David (Martha) Pepper and his sister Susan (Wayne) Beahlen. In addition, he is survived by his in-laws, Bob (Doris) Vanden Boogard; Mike (Kathy) Vanden Boogard; Tom Vanden Boogard; Jean Reynolds (special friend, Larry); Ted (Michelle) Vanden Boogard; Cindy (John) Stoeger. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Almon and Marie (Klosterman) Pepper; a brother, John Pepper, his parents-in-law, Alois and Mary Vanden Boogard, a brother-in-law, Father Steven Vanden Boogard and a sister-in-law, Barbara Vanden Boogard.
Per Tom's wishes, there will be no funeral services. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a later date.
**For Tom, as with many Vietnam Veterans, the war did not end when he came home.**
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