Thomas “Tom” John Walczak, age 60, passed away surrounded by family and friends on August 11, 2018 after an eight-month battle with cancer.
Tom was born on September 6, 1957, the son of the late Raymond and Elizabeth (Lewandowski) Walczak. He graduated from UWSP with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. With his education and knowledge, he succeeded in running his father’s business, Ray’s Business Machines, and later started two of his own businesses, ABS Computers and The Frontier Restaurant in Amherst, WI. With a passion for cooking, Tom and his partner Wil used all their efforts to develop the restaurant into a successful business. Tom lived an extraordinary life, using his many talents and engaging in many hobbies. He devoted much of his free time to flipping houses and completing small remodeling projects at home or at one of the rental properties that he owned. Tom loved sports, travelling (especially to Hawaii), collecting toy cars, and always shopping for a bargain. He had the biggest heart for animals, which enabled him to raise 10 dogs over the years. Volunteering and helping the Portage County Humane Society was always important to him.
Tom is survived by his partner of 23 years, Wil Mansavage; seven siblings: Joan (George) Stillman, Cynthia (James Tomlin) Walczak, Lois (Tom) Willford, Gerald (Karen) Walczak, James (Sue) Walczak, Kathleen (Brian) Mason, and Andrea (Chris Brownell) Walczak; several nieces, nephews, other close relatives and friends. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and first puppy love, “Nina”.
A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held Saturday, September 8, 2018, at Junger’s Holly Funeral Home in Amherst from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will be a memorial prayers service beginning at 1 p.m. Following the service, there will be an open house luncheon at Tom and Wil’s restaurant, The Frontier, in Amherst. Online condolences can be left at www.hollyfuneralhome.com