Full Obituary

     Thomas R. "Tom" Hempelman, passed away peacefully at his home in Thorp, WI on Monday, July 24, 2017.
     Thomas Richard Hempelman was born on June 14, 1938 to Ralph and Avis (Hagen) Hempelman in Eau Claire, WI.  His parents moved to Thorp in 1948, where they farmed north of Thorp.  He attended the Yeager School and then Thorp High School, where he met and then married a young gal who caught his eye, by the name of Alice “Shirley” Kostick on June 4, 1960.  They made their home in Thorp, WI where they raised 5 children and bought the Thorp Lumber Company in 1981, from Mr. Steve Dus, for whom Thomas had worked since he was 18 years old.  He continued to run and manage Hempelman Thorp Lumber until 2005 when he decided it was time to retire from the lumber business.
     Thomas loved God, his Family, Community and Country.  He proudly served his country as SSG Thomas R. Hempelman of the 32^nd Infantry Division of the Artillery for the National Guard of the United States and of the State of Wisconsin, from 1959 to 1962.
     For community, he was a very generous donor to any cause, purchaser of many a fair animal, and grilled countless pounds of chicken for the Thorp American Legion and the Thorp Moose Lodge.
     He loved the great outdoors, hunting and fishing.  He hosted weekly fish fries at his house for family and friends, and every November, his house was the place to be for fresh venison sausage. 
     Thomas is survived by his five children:  Charlene (Mike) Haas of Thorp,  Judith (Dennis) Salzgeber of Owen,   Michael Hempelman of Owen,  Billie Jo (Bernie) Hempelman of Jump River, and Amy Ogle of Minneapolis, MN;  nine grandchildren:  Jesse, Susan, Andrew, Nicholas, Luke, Amanda, Jeffrey, Kayla and Kyle;  eleven great-grandchildren:  Taylor, Tucker, Tianna, Nate, Hannah, Dylan, Taylor, Jayda, Brinley, Harper and Greyson; and one sister:  Karen (Jerome) Markquardt of Cascade, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
     Thomas was preceded in death by his parents;  his wife, Shirley, on April 13, 1983;  his special friend, Marlis Jacque, on December 29, 2012;  one sister, Beverly Neisius, on January 3, 2012;   two grandchildren:  Kelsey and Valentina;  and one great-granddaughter:  Bailey.
     Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Thorp, with Rev. Daniel Vang officiating.  Burial will follow in East Thorp Cemetery with military rites performed by the Thorp American Legion Post #547.  Pallbearers will be his grandsons:  Jesse Salzgeber, Andrew Salzgeber, Nicholas Salzgeber, Luke Bower, Jeffrey Mertens and Kyle Ogle.  Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home, on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 from 4pm to 8pm, and again at the church, on Thursday, from 10am until time of service.