Thomas Sinniger

Thomas H Sinniger, age 85, passed away August 10th, 2017 at Mayo Health Clinic.

He was born on March 24, 1932 to Herman and Ruth Sinniger.  Tom attended Holy Trinity Grade School and graduated from Aquinas Catholic High School in 1951. As a member of the first undefeated football team at Aquinas, he never shied away from betting on Aquinas versus Central with any of his kids on any high school sports. Tom served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from January 6, 1954 until January 5, 1956 and was honored to travel to Washington D.C. on a Freedom Honor Flight. He married Dolores Joan Joyce on November 9, 1957 at Saint Mary’s Church in Richland Center, Wisconsin and raised six children.

Tom is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Dolores Joan Sinniger, his sister Beverly Sinniger, his children: Laura (Mike) Fecht, David (Sherri) Sinniger, Don (Michele Abel) Sinniger, Dan (Mary Beth) Sinniger, Sarah Sinniger and Doug Sinniger. His grandchildren include Tom (Sarah) Fecht, Andy (Colleen) Fecht, Martha Fecht, Stephanie (Matt) Furchner, Tim and Joe Sinniger, Marina Sinniger, Rachel and Sam Sinniger, and Ryan Sinniger. His great-grandchildren include Makena, Connor, Hadley, and Briella Fecht and Axel Diehl. He is further survived by in-laws, Patrick and Karen Joyce and many cousins, nieces, and nephews from the Sinniger, Vogel, and Joyce families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Herman, his parent-in-laws Harry and Irma Joyce, his sister Shirley Wenzel along with many brothers and sisters of his wife Joan and a great grandson, Austin Fecht.

Tom was a five-decade member of Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 18 and proud to have contributed on many construction projects in western Wisconsin. After his retirement, he kept busy as a handyman. He hung doors and built numerous decks and fences in the area. He was a parishioner at St. Pius and Mary, Mother of the Church where he was an usher and a member of the Men's Club. He was the sponsor and head coach of the “Saint Sinniger” softball team, playing in the Mary, Mother of the Church tournament. He casually worked on his golf game in the St. Pius/Good Shepherd Tuesday night league for many years. He was a member of the La Crosse Knights of Columbus and achieved the rank of Fourth Degree Knight. Tom enjoyed bowling, playing cards and growing vegetables in the back-yard garden, especially his various tomato plants.

Tom loved the outdoors. In his spare time, he regularly walked the “Duck Project” trails and fished with his kids, grandkids, friends or his dogs around Goose Island for whatever would bite. He drove the coulee region roads looking for his next trout spot and usually found it. If you were fishing with Tom and didn’t catching anything it’s probably because “you weren’t holding your mouth right”. Whether it was hunting rabbits with a beagle or wing shooting over one of his retrievers, Tom enjoyed hunting over dogs. He started deer hunting in the early 1950’s and harvested one of his nicest bucks during the 2016 season.

Tom’s greatest joy was his family. He always prioritized his wife and children’s interests before his own. He loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s school functions, sporting events and family parties. He will be missed by many and remembered for his love, patience, understanding and willingness to help. Tom was a great example of a husband and father.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 16 ^th , at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse. Rev. Brian D. Konopa will officiate. Entombment, with military honors, will follow in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may visit from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday at the church.