Spencer D. Thomas

Spencer Dean Thomas Spencer D. Thomas passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on September 11, 2019 at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife Cindy and three sons, Eric (Sandi) of West Bend, Daniel (Kristin) of Racine, Michael (Kelly) of Danbury, CT and his ten grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by his mother Letha, sister Gail (Quinton) Friesen, of Charlotte, NC and three children from a previous marriage; Stephanie, John and Jay. He is preceded in death by his father George. He celebrated life and enjoyed a wide variety of activities and interests. Spence was born on February 21, 1943 in Cloquet, MN. As a young man, Spence was passionate about hunting, fishing, golfing, and downhill skiing. He participated in the 1960 Junior Olympics alongside Spider Sabich. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Business. Spence grew up in Minnesota and later settled in Milwaukee as a successful Stockbroker before retiring in 2005. He rooted for all the Wisconsin teams…Bucks, Brewers, Badgers- but when Green Bay faced its Minnesota opponent, we all knew he was a “closet” Vikings fan! Every event Spencer helped to organize, from Canadian fishing trips to tailgating at Brewer and Badger games, ran smoother because of his attention to details. Of course, this attention to detail made him very particular about his need for freshly ironed shirts, a perfectly maintained lawn, packing for his favorite vacation spot (Cayman Islands) and how dinner was grilled each night…NONE of which Cindy could touch! Perhaps it was his mathematics background, but if ever the opportunity presented itself, you could find Spence playing his favorite card game-cribbage, with friends, family and anyone else willing to risk “a buck and a nickel (per point)”. He religiously watched Johnny Carson and his love for Cramer’s sense of humor and stock tips made enjoying his favorite beverage, Hamm’s beer, a nightly event. His father-in-law’s fifty years of involvement in the Gilman Lions Club sparked Spencer’s interest to join the Cedarburg Lions Club. Spence’s propensity for organization quickly propelled him to a leadership role, he became President and eventually a Chairman in the Festival Committee which was the backbone of their fundraising efforts. He also participated in leadership roles in “Eye Bank Transportation”, “Special Spaces”, blood drives, and many other Lion events which made a difference in so many lives. During his 27 years he generously donated his time and received many awards including the highest honors; Melvin Jones and Birch-Sturm awards. As a Cedarburg Lion, Spencer lived by his motto, “If you are a Cedarburg Lion you are a special person, but not nearly as special as those you have helped along the way.” In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family may be directed to Cindy Thomas and will be distributed to a charity of choice. Thank you to all of the Lions and Spencer and Cindy’s family and friends for their love and support during his illness. A special thank you to Lawlis Family Hospice at Columbia St. Mary’s in Ozaukee for their compassionate care. A gathering will be held at the Cedarburg Legion Post on October 20th from 1 pm to 4 pm to celebrate his life.