Thomas L. Abbott

Thomas LeRoy Abbott, age 87, of Portage, went home to be with his Lord Sunday, April 21, 2024. He passed peacefully in his home and surrounded by his family. He will be greatly missed by all. Tom was born September 24, 1936, in Cherokee OK, the son of Lee Raymond and Gladys (Dunkin) Abbott and settled in Wisconsin in 1959.

He was united in marriage to his wife, Jane M Schultz, September 18, 1965. They enjoyed 58 years together. He was a member of Faith Bible Church in Rio WI, and lived out his faith to everyone he met. He loved to be outdoors, hunting with his wife and family, and was highly knowledgeable in hunting, fishing, and trapping. He enjoyed annual trips to Colorado, hunting elk or bear with some of his closest friends. He was also involved with the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and led youth hunts, teaching the next generation of outdoorsmen. In his later years, he began building model airplanes and almost always had a project in the works.

Tom served in the US Air Force for 4 years, stationed in Germany. He earned his private pilot’s license and owned his own plane for a number of years. He was part owner of Midwest Sign before opening his own business, Abbott Sporting Goods, in Portage. He also served as a correctional officer at Columbia Correctional Institution, and a few other ventures, until his retirement in 2001. He cherished the memories of his Honor Flight to Washington D.C. last year.

Tom is survived by his wife, Jane; his children, Tad (Penny) Abbott of Oxford, and Trudy (Mike) Meade of Lodi; his grandchildren, Clay and Ty Dettmann, and McKenna and Mitchell Abbott; siblings, Gladys (Virgil) Chance of Portage, Nancy Brown of OK, Bobbie (Barbara) Abbott of TX, and Lila Altamirano of AZ; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Floyd Brown; brother-in-law Ambrosio Altamirano; brother Max Abbott; and sister Donna Meyer.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Faith Bible Church in Rio WI, with Pastor Mike Gormican officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 AM until time of service. Inurnment will be held privately at a later date. 

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