Thomas James VanHandel

Thomas James VanHandel left this world on April 17th, 2025. While Tom was fully with us until the moment he wasn't, he did stay around a while, providing precious time for those who loved him to say what they had to say and give hugs to this great man. He passed away surrounded by loved ones, as he was in life. He is survived by his wife, Jody; his son Eric (Lindsey) and grandchildren Fisher and Grady; his daughter Allison Reid (Matthew) and grandchildren Mitchell and McKenzie; his brother Jack (Ann); as well as a vast network of family and friends. Tom was preceded in death by so many people he loved.
Tom was born to Arnold and Geraldine VanHandel in 1957. At the age of 16, he met the love of his life, Jody Bergholtz. He was immediately and wholeheartedly embraced and loved by the Bergholtz family as a brother, son, and friend. Tom and Jody married in 1978. Over the years, two became four and then ten as Tom first became Dad and then Opa. He also relished his role as Uncle to many nieces and nephews. Tom's greatest love was his family, and his favorite place was home, where in his words he "lived a perfect life."
Tom worked for over 40 years at Pierce Manufacturing, and he retired at 62 as a Logistics Manager at the GLC plant. Tom was a known problem-solver, mentor to others, and took immense pride in his work. He was meticulous and always wanted to be of service to others. He was known to say that if he didn't do his job well, they couldn't do theirs. Tom was a go-to for so many – if you had a problem, he was the person to call. He gave sound advice and always seemed to know the right thing to do. He was smart and quick-witted with an exceptional sense of humor, and there weren't many things he couldn't fix or create from wood.
Tom cared about all people, creatures, and the earth. Exceptionally generous, he put his arms around anyone who was in need. There was a wholeness to being loved by Tom. His hugs gave you comfort and warmth, and let you know everything was going to work out. Tom's worldview was well-summarized by a line in one of his favorite songs "...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the providers and staff at ThedaCare Neenah for their skill and compassion in caring for Tom. The family would also like to say a special thanks to Brother Ray for his gentle presence and spiritual support and guidance for Tom and the family.
A celebration of life for Tom will be held on May 17th, 2025, at Pullmans in Appleton, WI from 12-4 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wisconsin Honor Flight or to the Neenah Animal Shelter.