Thomas J. Siegrist

SIEGRIST, THOMAS JAMES

Thomas Siegrist, 48, passed away on Wednesday morning, February 17, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital after a three year battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Thomas was born on Sept. 16, l961 in Appleton to Elaine Siegrist and the late Dr. Kenneth Siegrist. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and Xavier High School where he was President of the Key Club and active in the Swing Choir and Track. He studied at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley and earned both Bachelor and Master degrees in Biology with an emphasis in Microbiology, graduating Summa cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

Thomas had many diverse interests including the environment, theater, art and all things science. He loved entomology and began studying and collecting insects at an early age. He developed a professional insect collection consisting of thirty-six display drawers, mostly Wisconsin specimens.

Thomas is survived by his mother, Elaine, a brother, Peter (Dr. Stephanie) of Rochester, N.Y., and sisters Dr. Anne Siegrist of Appleton, Mary Kay (Alan) Van Deraa of Wauwatosa, Sarah Siegrist of Menasha and Amy Pearson of Albuquerque, N.M. He is also survived by nephew Nick Van Deraa and nieces Emily Van Deraa, Paige and Tayler Pearson, and Claire and Helen Siegrist and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Thomas was preceded in death by his father, his maternal and paternal grandparents, two aunts and three uncles and by his favorite cat, Boris.

The memorial mass for Thomas will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, 410 W. Lawrence Street, Appleton. Father Larry Abler will be officiating. Inurnment will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the time of mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to LEAVEN, 1475 Opportunity Lane, Menasha, WI 54952.

The family wishes to thank the medical community including Dr. Charles McKee, Dr. William Guenther, the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals, Madison, WI. We are also grateful to all our friends, prayer chains and members of the community who have been faithfully praying for Tom.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior St.
Appleton, WI 54911
(920)739-1231