Thomas Wirkus

Thomas Edward Wirkus, Ph.D., died on August 21, 2017.  Tom was born to Joseph (“Sam”) and Jamina (“Jimmy”) Wirkus on May 31, 1933, in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He graduated with a B.S. degree in English and Speech from UW-Stevens Point (1956). Following teaching assignments at high schools in Wisconsin, he received an M.S. degree in Speech from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He began a thirty-five year career at UW-La Crosse in 1959. He completed his doctorate in Speech Education and Radio-TV at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 1965. In addition to instructional duties, he served as department chair in Speech Communication and Theatre for nine years; was the “voice” of the marching band for twenty-four years; and spent twenty-nine years as the district coordinator of forensics for the western Wisconsin area for the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association.   He was named Wisconsin’s outstanding college speech educator by the Wisconsin Communication Association in 1988 and was elected to the Wall of Fame of the International Listening Association in 2011. He held emeriti memberships in the American Communication Association, the Central States Communication Association, and Phi Delta Kappa.

Tom met Lois Langfeldt in college at UW-Stevens Point and they were married July 28, 1956. Four wonderful children were born to them: Terrance Thomas (Kristine) Wirkus, Sheila Ann Wirkus, Mary Therese Wirkus, and Timothy Joseph (Laurie) Wirkus. Following retirement, Lois and Tom had an opportunity to do some traveling and spent many years volunteering at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse and the Gundersen Medical Center in Onalaska. Tom also served as the first president of the Lauderdale North Association. Tom represented western Wisconsin on the Board of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association for twelve years, serving as president for three years.

Tom’s major hobby was music. He began drumming at the age of twelve in Marshfield, and played his first dance job at age 13 after receiving special permission to join the musicians’ union. He played with the Swingsters, the Russ Nelson Orchestra and Wally Ives and the Jolly Dutchmen. In 1965 he and colleague, Lee Glasel, formed the Tom Lee Orchestra. Later, Tom fronted the Tom Wirkus Four. Many will remember Tom in the percussion section of the La Crosse Concert Band. He played in that unit for fifty-one consecutive summers. He spent many enjoyable years with Reverend Allan Townsend and “The Wonderful World Jazz Band”. His last affiliation was as one of two drummers with “The Grumpy Old Men”.

Tom leaves a loving wife and best friend of 64 years, Lois; children Terrance (Kristine), Sheila, Mary (Tom Anderson), and Timothy (Laurie); grandchildren Taylor, Taryn, Nicholas, and Joshua; a brother, Mark, and brothers and sisters-in-law. He was predeceased by his parents and grandparents, a brother, Joe, and a granddaughter, Laura.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 25 ^th , at the Cathedral of St Joseph the Workman, 530 Main St., La Crosse. Msgr. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Committal rites will follow in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the church and also from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass of Friday. Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting the family. Online condolences may be submitted at www.schumacher-kish.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered to St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, the Onalaska Food Basket, or the Gundersen Medical Foundation.