Thomas H. Burrows, M.D.

Dr. Thomas H. Burrows left this world and entered eternal life on November 23, 2024. Tom was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 16, 1935, to Oliver and Anna Burrows, and was raised in Elmhurst, Illinois. Tom grew up with his brother Oliver Knox Jr. (Bud), who was six years older to the same day. He attended York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. During this time, he gained a keen interest in flying and in adulthood spent much time winging around the sky as a private pilot.

Always working to keep pace with his older brother, Tom graduated 2 years early from high school and went on to attend Cornell University where he studied Government, was a coxswain in the Cornell University Rowing Team and, also a member of the Acacia Fraternity. He was also a part of the Naval ROTC. After graduating he went into active duty in the Navy, stationed on a Radar Picket Ship in San Francisco and later a Hospital Ship in Long Beach, California. In 1958 Tom entered Medical School at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore – following his graduation he did a rotating internship at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

After his internship, Tom returned to Johns Hopkins for a 5-year residency in Otolaryngology. Upon completing his residency, he moved to Appleton, Wisconsin and together with Dr. Richard Ward and Dr. Mitchell Kwaterski, founded the Ear, Nose and Throat Surgical Associates in Appleton, Wisconsin which they ran for over 30 years until their respective retirements.

It was in medical school that Tom fell in love with Phyllis, a young graduate nurse of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. This was the beginning of a long, loving life together – they were married for 61 years, raised four children and watched two grandsons grow into amazing young men. Tom and Phyllis spent much time on Lake Winnebago – a place that Tom called; ‘the most beautiful spot in the world’, as well as on the ski hills in Upper Michigan, where the kids and grandkids learned and excelled at skiing.

Tom found his greatest joys in life surrounded by nature, family, and adventure. He cherished time spent planting trees, sailing on the lake, and caring for the numerous cats and dogs that seemed to find their way into the home. His love for flying took him to private airports across the state and country, it was a passion at which he truly excelled. He passed this love on to his Grandson, Josh.

Tom will be remembered as a man of kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication. He cared deeply for his patients and was wholeheartedly committed to the care of others. He gave back to his community through tireless volunteerism, supporting the YMCA and summer camps, serving as a Deacon in his church, as a member of local community boards, as a board member of the Waverly Sanitary District, and wherever other needs came up.

He had a profound musical talent, able to sit down and play music at the piano by ear after hearing something only once. His love of music and choir singing were sources of joy. Tom performed with the McDowell Chorus in Appleton and with the Gainesville Civic Chorus with whom he sang in majestic cathedrals across northern Italy. Throughout his life, he had a desire to continue to learn, was always reading, and could retain knowledge like no one else. His kids called him ‘the original Google’ and ‘Dr. Dad’ (for medical questions).

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Phyllis, his four children – Anne (Julian), Michelle (Ron), Tom and Grant – two grandsons Joshua (Jessica) and Jools, and his niece Beth and nephew Ollie, all of whom brought him immense pride and happiness. He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Anna Burrows, as well as his brother Bud and his sister-in-law Ellen. His grandson Jools said: “He truly was one of a kind. I will never forget his selflessness and kind heart. He had so many amazing qualities and I am going to embrace them more.”

A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2025, and details will be available on this site closer to the date. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton, Wisconsin. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cornell University Rowing Team or Doctors Without Borders.

And with that, Tom’s legacy will live on. We will miss you so much Tom and ‘Dr. Dad’.