Thomas M Beer

He was born on Dec. 24, 1922, in Pittsburgh, PA. to Thomas M. and Clara (Freund) Beer. Tom was a child of the Depression and a member of The Greatest Generation. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.

On Feb. 22, 1944, Tom married his high school sweetheart, Helen Schroeder, and they had 68 wonderful years together. Tom and Helen moved from Pittsburgh to North Port, Fla., in 1991 and enjoyed their retirement life there. They made many wonderful friends and were active in their retirement community until moving to La Crosse in 2009.

Tom worked for many years in the heating and air-conditioning business in Pittsburg. He was a long-time member of The SPEBSQSA and sang in Pittsburgh and Florida. Tom loved to draw and paint and passed that love on to many. Tom was a quiet man with a big heart who led a full life and was loved by his family and friends for his easy going ways, gentle demeanor and willingness to help others.



He is survived by his loving wife, Helen; daughters, Barbara Beer of La Crosse, and Janet Brunn, Charlotte, NC; four grandchildren: Michael (Kellie) Brunn, Charlotte, NC; Brian (Rebecca) Frechette, Frisco, Texas; Kevin (Sandra) Brunn, Rostock, Germany; and Beth Frechette (Eric Davidson), Holmen, Wis. Tom had three great-grandchildren, Camden, Alexa and Clara Brunn. He is further survived by a brother, James (Lorraine) Beer of Pittsburgh. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John Beer, and an infant grandson.

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. Burial with military honors will be in La Crosse at a later date. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 4:30 P.M. until the time of services.Online condolences may be given at www.schumacher-kish.com

The family is grateful for the wonderful care Tom received from Hillview Health Care Center and the friends we made during his time there. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used in Tom's honorto further research in memory care or Parkinson's disease.