Thomas J. Staehler

Thomas (Tom) J. Staehler, of Kewaskum, WI, peacefully met his loving Creator, who greeted him with welcoming arms at Heaven’s gates on March 5, 2026. He passed peacefully, surrounded by supportive and loving family. Tom was happily married to Pat for 52 wonderful, and occasionally challenging, years. Pat will miss her soulmate and partner in crime.

Tom was a prayer warrior and he rarely missed a weekly mass or stations in Lent. He sang in the folk choir at Holy Trinity and then at St. Mary’s in West Bend. He experienced peace with God through personal Bible study, praying the rosary and reaffirming his faith through religious materials. He loved his family farm and frequently helped out with chores. As a farmer at heart, he loved tending the fields, talking about the weather and walking the Ice Age Trail, which ran through the family’s farm land.

Tom was a gentle soul, except when he was yelling at the TV while cheering on the Green Bay Packers. Go Pack Go! His deep love of family really came through, when he attended family and sporting events while cheering on all his kids and grandkids. In the early years of marriage Tom played softball in a men’s league; when Pat was pregnant, he would hit a home run for his soon-to-be-born child. He also attended a NASCAR race and even ended up on SportsCenter.

He also loved playing games with his family: the Penny Game, board games, and most recently, Farkle with Pat. Tom had a carefree personality, in which he could be caught singing loudly with his grandkids, often teasing Pat to make her laugh and walking around the house humming softly. He was truly an incredible husband, son, father, Popa, and friend.

Tom will be deeply missed by his loving wife Pat, children Brian and Lesa (Hannah & Cole), Kevin and Kelly (Abbigail, James, & Olivia), Nick and Mandy (Ryland & Kenzington), and Katie and Andy (Noah, Adalyn, & Ava). Tom leaves behind his brother John (Karen) Staehler and he had a special relationship with his brother-in-law, Joe Ditter. Tom was the son of the late Roman and Regina Staehler.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026, at St. Mary’s (West Bend) at 10:30am. Tom’s family will receive visitors beginning at 9:30am. A light lunch will follow the service. Tom was a generous man and in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests any donations be made to the charity of your choice in Tom’s name. The family would also like to express gratitude for all who were in Tom’s life and especially for those who supported them through his final moments.

For those who cannot attend the service, the family encourages you to light a candle in his memory to spread hope and love into our busy world or find time to walk outside in nature and breathe in the richness of the life-giving soil, which Tom so intensely loved. One might also pay it forward by helping out a stranger with a kind word or a smile. Tom is not gone. He lives on through the lives of those he has crossed paths with during his time here on earth.

The Myrhum - Patten Funeral and Cremations Service has been entrusted with Tom’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.