IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Tom
Strover
September 8, 1945 – April 23, 2025
Obituary
Tom Strover, 79, died on April 23 of complications from a recent stroke. He was a lifelong resident of the Fox River Valley and could never imagine living anywhere else.
Tom was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and was the first child of Leone and Glen Strover. Tom enjoyed a childhood of boy scouts, local baseball pick-up games, torturing his younger sisters Sharon and Nancy, and running with a group of friends with whom he could be mischievous. He graduated from Appleton High and then went on to college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
His education there was interrupted by the Vietnam War, prompting him to enlist in the Air Force. He lived in Omaha to serve at Strategic Air Command for a few years before returning to Madison.
When he moved back to the Appleton area, he landed a job at Federal Express, which ultimately became his long-term employer. Resuming his friendships in the Valley, Tom golfed, rafted, and enjoyed his many friends and, of course, his dogs. Springer spaniel Otto, aka 'the counter thief,' was one of his favorites.
He met the love of his life, Judi Hoelzel, marrying her in 1991. Meeting Judi was the best thing that ever happened to him, he often said. He became a stepfather to Judi's children, Scott, Heather and Erika. Tom enjoyed being a dad and found that it brought out something in him he didn't know he had. Being a good Wisconsinite, Tom loved the Packers and when they struggled the family could always count on Tom yelling "come on ladies" very loudly.
Survivors include his sisters, Sharon (Michael Barrett) Strover and Nancy Strover; son, Scott (Nancy) Hoelzel; daughters, Erika (Michael) Pond and Heather (Chris) Ristow; grandchildren, Alex (Farrah Flattman) Hoelzel, Emma Hoelzel and Gabe (Megan) Ristow; great-grandchildren, Melanie and Genevieve Risto; and good friend, Barbie Talbot.
He was predeceased by his wife, Judi; and both of his parents.
In lieu of funeral services, the family will announce a celebration of life at some of Tom's favorite taverns at a future date, at which time we will be sure to enjoy the sounds of Van Morrison sailing 'into the mystic'.
Please feel free to donate to his favorite charity, the World Wildlife Federation, in his honor.
Tom was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and was the first child of Leone and Glen Strover. Tom enjoyed a childhood of boy scouts, local baseball pick-up games, torturing his younger sisters Sharon and Nancy, and running with a group of friends with whom he could be mischievous. He graduated from Appleton High and then went on to college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
His education there was interrupted by the Vietnam War, prompting him to enlist in the Air Force. He lived in Omaha to serve at Strategic Air Command for a few years before returning to Madison.
When he moved back to the Appleton area, he landed a job at Federal Express, which ultimately became his long-term employer. Resuming his friendships in the Valley, Tom golfed, rafted, and enjoyed his many friends and, of course, his dogs. Springer spaniel Otto, aka 'the counter thief,' was one of his favorites.
He met the love of his life, Judi Hoelzel, marrying her in 1991. Meeting Judi was the best thing that ever happened to him, he often said. He became a stepfather to Judi's children, Scott, Heather and Erika. Tom enjoyed being a dad and found that it brought out something in him he didn't know he had. Being a good Wisconsinite, Tom loved the Packers and when they struggled the family could always count on Tom yelling "come on ladies" very loudly.
Survivors include his sisters, Sharon (Michael Barrett) Strover and Nancy Strover; son, Scott (Nancy) Hoelzel; daughters, Erika (Michael) Pond and Heather (Chris) Ristow; grandchildren, Alex (Farrah Flattman) Hoelzel, Emma Hoelzel and Gabe (Megan) Ristow; great-grandchildren, Melanie and Genevieve Risto; and good friend, Barbie Talbot.
He was predeceased by his wife, Judi; and both of his parents.
In lieu of funeral services, the family will announce a celebration of life at some of Tom's favorite taverns at a future date, at which time we will be sure to enjoy the sounds of Van Morrison sailing 'into the mystic'.
Please feel free to donate to his favorite charity, the World Wildlife Federation, in his honor.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tom Strover, please visit our flower store.
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