Thomas J. Shandonay

Thomas Joseph Shandonay, 85, was taken into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on the anniversary of Tom and Lois's 62nd wedding anniversary, Saturday April 8, 2023.
Tom was born on November 7, 1937 in Racine, WI to the late Fredrick J. and Theresa (Vandenberg) Shandonay. Tom was united in marriage to Lois (Cotter) Shandonay at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Appleton. They moved to Neenah where they shared 62 wonderful years together raising their five children. Their children are Timothy (Mary Ellen), Therese, Patrick (Paula), Mary, and Shaun (Alicia). Tom was blessed with eight beautiful grandchildren. Andrew, Spencer (April), Hilary, Anna, Kenneth, Joshua, Katherine, and Allie. Each one of the grandchildren had a special place in Grandpa's heart.
Tom moved from Racine to Appleton where he attended St. Joseph School. He was a 1956 graduate of St. Mary's High School in Menasha where he played and lettered in baseball and football. Tom was proud to hold a place in the St. Mary Central High School Hall of Fame as a 1954/55 State champion in baseball. Tom attended St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, IN and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a bachelors and master's degree in Elementary Education.
Tom's love and passion for enhancing kids' lives through teaching and coaching shined in his 33-year career. His first teaching job was in Kimberly, WI. He later taught for the rest of his career at Roosevelt, Spring Road, Horace Mann, and Shattuck schools in Neenah. He coached freshmen baseball for 11-years, JV baseball for 5-years as well as 8th grade girls' basketball for 9-years at Shattuck and Armstrong.
Part of his professional accomplishments included Neenah Education Association President, the Phi Delta Kappa Northeastern Wisconsin Chapter, WEAC Task force president and chairperson, as well as other numerous boards or committees.
Tom was a charter member of St. Gabriel Catholic Parish in Neenah where he lectured at Mass, served on various committees, was a Communion distributor at church and for the homebound, and taught religious education. He was a former member of The Knights of Columbus Council 607. Tom sung with the McDowell Choir and was able to live out his love of singing on stage. For several years he mentored mentally disabled people for a week each summer on Onaway Island. This passion for the service of others was passed down to each of his kids who carried on the tradition at Onaway. He coached Little League in the summers and found various interesting jobs to provide for his family, including climbing and cleaning 500-foot smokestacks.
Tom was respected and loved by many people, including former teaching colleagues, students, athletes, parents, family, and friends. Tom loved his life, and he cared deeply about people. Tom loved to talk to others and knew someone wherever he went. He enjoyed Jimmy Buffet concerts, world travel, random road trips, and both his kids' and grandkids' sporting events, concerts, and graduations. He was an avid Brewer fan, loved the Packers, golfing, hunting, fishing, and spending time praying at the Adoration Chapel in St. Margaret Mary. His love of God and his strong faith was the basis of his love for his wife, his family, teaching, and being a friend to many. He is survived by his wife, Lois, his children, grandchildren, his sister Donna Kilsdonk, sister-in-law Ann Uehlein, Roger (Doris) VanBeek, Norman (Marge) VanBeek, numerous nieces and nephews. He is joined in heaven by his parents, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and his beloved golden retriever Natasha.
Tom's wife and family would like to thank the entire staff of Living Tree Estates for their dignified care, love, and compassion.
Tom truly loved his teaching and coaching career. It made him proud and extremely happy when he would see and talk to his former students and athletes he coached. When he was greeted with a "Hi Mr. Shandonay! Do you remember me?". He always did and spoke highly of all of you.
Funeral services for Tom will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday April 15, 2023 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church 900 Geiger St., Neenah with Fr. Bob Kollath officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Kessler-Fahrenkrug Funeral Home 304 S. Commercial St., Neenah and also at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Tom's family respectfully requests your consideration of a donation to an education fund which is in Tom's name.
Tom's funeral was livestreamed through the St. Gabriel Parish Facebook page. You can rewatch the funeral service through the link here: https://www.facebook.com/stgabrielneenah/videos/188325680718981