Thomas E. Sullivan "Sully", age 90, of West Bend, passed peacefully with family at his bedside Tuesday November 12, 2013 at Cedar Community.
He was born in Two Harbors, MN on March 25, 1923 to William and Nora (nee Johnson) Sullivan, the 5th of 14 children. His family settled in Chippewa Falls, WI and upon graduation from high school in 1941, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Tom was united in marriage to Marilyn Murphy on June 15th, 1946 in Chippewa Falls, moving shortly thereafter to Wauwatosa, where he worked and attended Marquette University, earning a B.A. in Accounting. Tom worked as a national industrial salesman until retiring in 1986. He was the proud father of seven children; Tim (Faith), Todd (Jackie), Terry (Julie), Ted (Caryn), Therese (Ron Piekarz), Toni (Ray) Kelly and Tom (Cheryl). Tom and Marilyn eventually settled in West Bend in 1960.
He was a loving and caring husband and father, WWII Vet, former West Bend school board member, legendary joke and story teller, as well as an avid Packer fan, fisherman, and cook.
Tom is survived by his wife, Marilyn; six children; 18 grandchildren, Marnie (Pat) Hammler, Matthew (Kristen), Mark (Marit), Holly, T.J., Terry, Caitlin (Pete) Johnson, Daniel (Nicole), Jack, Julia, Benjamin Piekarz, Ted Piekarz, Ian Johnson, Abigail Johnson, Alexander Johnson, Connor, Cameron and Caden; six great grandchildren; Riley, Codey, Paul, Andrew, Will and Grace; four siblings; Melva Peterson, Noreen (Bill) Lange, Jerry, and Jackie (Terry) Strawhecker; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.
Tom was preceded in death by his son, Ted; three brothers, Norman, Jimmy and Mike; four sisters, Ethel, Betty, Patsy and Katherine; as well as his parents.
Funeral services will be held at the Myrhum ~ Patten Funeral Home (1315 W. Washington Street) on Sunday November 17th at 12:00 (noon). Visitation will be held on Sunday from 11:00 am until the time of service at noon. A reception and brunch will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are greatly appreciated to either the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (alzfdn.org) or Fraser (fraser.org), an autism service provider.