Thomas R Heilig

Thomas R Heilig, age 67, of Lake Tomahawk, WI and Chicago, IL, died on Wednesday, October 25th at the Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, WI. Tom is survived by his wife, Virginia (Ginger) Davis; a step-son, Davis (Jamie) Sleboda; aunts, uncles and cousins in the Chicago area and around the country. Tom was preceded in death by his parents Robert E. Heilig and Emilie Mae (Franz) Heilig and several aunts, uncles and cousin Donna and his best friend, Jon Evans.

Tom grew up in Chicago, graduating from North Park Academy high school where he participated on the wrestling and football teams. Tom went on to graduate from North Park College in 1971, majoring in Physical Education. Tom worked for his parent’s business, Emilie Mae’s, throughout his school years and for some time after college. He also worked summers during college for American Airlines at O’Hare Airport. Tom began working at Roadway Trucking in 1976 in Chicago. He held various positions, eventually becoming a Terminal Manager at various locations in his adopted state of Wisconsin, first in Menomonie Falls, then in Oshkosh, Racine, and Oak Creek, WI. After 24 years at Roadway, Tom accepted a position at Tax-Air Freight in Milwaukee, where he met his wife Ginger.

Tom loved family vacations as a young boy, traveling west to National Parks and fishing in northern Wisconsin and many years with his parents at a fishing camp in Ontario, Canada. Tom spent many of his adult years returning to the Camp in Canada as well as hunting and fishing with friends in central and northern Wisconsin. Later in life, Tom found a log-cabin for-sale on the Internet and convinced Ginger that they should consider it for their retirement years. That discussion resulted in their move to Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin in 2008.

After settling into the Village of Lake Tomahawk, Tom volunteered to become a member of the Lake Tomahawk Parks Commission. He soon was elected Chair of the Commission. For several years, Tom’s passion on the Commission was to establish a Fishing Pier, specifically one that would be accessible for all people to enjoy the sport as he had. Ultimately, Tom was able to acquire grant funding for the Pier so that it could be built without tax-payer expense. As a result, he was able to “launch” the Lake Tomahawk Handicapped Fishing Pier in 2015, a nice addition to the town’s already popular Boat Launch, Snowshoe Baseball and surrounding recreational area. Ironically, he was able to use the Pier himself this summer on his last fishing trip after being diagnosed with ALS.

Tom began his journey with ALS in January 2017. A sore throat soon progressed to his inability to speak, swallow, eat and walk. After multiple medical visits, he sought advice from the Mayo Clinic, where he was diagnosed and given a feeding tube in early July. Even with needed hydration and nutrition, the disease continued to progress at a rapid rate. After a bout with pneumonia in August, he was approved for hospice care and was admitted to Seasons of Life soon after. Despite excellent care by the staff at Seasons and uplifting visits from friends and supporters, he quickly succumbed to the disease.

A Memorial Service will be held for Tom at Nimsgern Funeral and Cremation Services in Woodruff, WI on Saturday, November 11 at 5 pm. Visitation, prior to the Service will begin at 3:00 p.m., with refreshments planned for after the Service.

Because Tom and Ginger have many friends, neighbors and relatives in the Chicago and surrounding area, a second Service is planned in Chicago on November 18th with visitation at 11:00 followed by Memorial Service at 12:00 noon and a light lunch.
Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com

NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES IS SERVING THE FAMILY.