Thomas Willman

Thomas Willman of Random Lake, Wis., passed away May 13, 2025, at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton Wis., spending his final moment with his wife and daughters.

Tom was born Jan. 10, 1943, in Marshfield, Wis. He was the seventh child of Anton Willman and Eva (Payne) Willman. 

After attending local schools in Marshfield, he did as many of his time did and left school, going the route of work and vocational training and adding to his parents’ household income. 

Tom was joined in marriage to Arlene Kille on Sept. 21, 1963, at St Michael’s Church in Hewitt, Wis. 

They resided in Marshfield, with Tom earning for his own new family and he and Arlene having their first daughter, Eva. After two years, Tom and Arlene made the move to the Cedarburg/Grafton area, where they were joined by their second daughter, Robbie. In 1977, they built their forever home in Random Lake. 

For 38 years, Tom worked as a certified welder for Trak International and all of its predecessors in Port Washington until they closed.

Known to many as Willie, Tom enjoyed a good homemade meal and sharing it with others because, “We wouldn’t want you to go home and tell them that we didn’t feed you and you went home hungry.” He enjoyed cooking, camping and having a good visit at the kitchen table over a beer with friends and family. 

He was always a man who was thinking about ideas, projects and the world. 

He is survived by his wife of more than 62 years, Arlene; his daughters Eva (Matthew) Harvey and Robbie (Hugh) Greathouse; his granddaughters Hannah Harvey, Jennifer (Ed) Krajewski and Nicole, Rachel and Carly Greathouse; and great-grandchildren Estelle, Ezra, Peter, Sydney and Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers and sisters Veva, Albert, Donald, Rosella, Flordena, Marion and infant brother Jerry.

A celebration of life will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Eernisse Funeral Home, 171 N. Royal Ave., Belgium. The family will greet friends and relatives at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service. 

We would like to thank all the emergency workers and medical staff who help all of us through these hard and chaotic times, especially the Random Lake EMTs and staff at the Aurora Medical Center.

Memorials in Willie’s name may be given to the Random Lake Food Pantry, VA Center or where your heart leads you. 

Eernisse Funeral Home in Belgium is proudly serving the Willman family. 

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.eernissefuneralhome.com.