IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Thomas
Morgan
September 6, 1949 – December 11, 2024
Obituary
It is with a heavy heart that the family of Thomas L. Morgan Jr. announce his passing on 12/11/2024.
Tom "Pappa Smurf" was born in Valparaiso, Indiana on 9/6/1949 the 11 th of 15 children to Frances Dorthy Hershman and Thomas Wayne Morgan. The family moved to Bancroft Wisconsin and then Belvidere Illinois, and they lived on a dairy farm where Tom finished out High School and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Vietnam war. Was honorably discharged receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Nam Service Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.
After his service, he came home to Belvidere Illinois where he married Wendy Lee Cushman and began a family.
True to his heritage, Tom worked the fields as a farmhand for some local farmers while also renting land and cash cropping after working hours. He went back to classes and got several certificates for learning the mechanics of farm equipment and worked at John Deere as a service man for a few years while in his 30's along with renting land and teaching his trade to his son.
Never one to shy away from hard work, he was always working extra hours in a field, on equipment, helping his brother George at his repair service shop…. volunteering at the grange and for his "good buddy" Jack Ratcliff at the Boone County fairgrounds, helping his good friend Russ Reany roasting hogs for celebrations of all sorts and giving a listening ear to anyone who needed some advice. In 2001, he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of being his "own farmer" and purchased one of his siblings' farms in Omro Wisconsin, where he tilled the land and owned and sold pork and beef and where many family members would come and gather for bon fires good talks and food.
Tom's health had begun slowly declining in the past few years but was actively farming, selling beef, and entertaining anyone who came by his shop until this past September when he became ill after a fall and never fully recovered.
He is survived by daughter, Tanya (Trevor) Ford; son, Jeremy Morgan; grandson, Chad Morgan. He is further survived by his sisters, Patsy Ostrander, Suzie (Dale) Fidder, Corine (Jim) Hartwig and Mary Harbison; brothers, Johnny, Robert Peter (Candy) and Daniel Morgan; many nieces, nephews, and cousins along with his farming family members in both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Proceeded in death by his parents; an infant son, Chad; brothers, Leon, Allen, George, Michael and Samuel; and sister, Nancy Snow.
Being a humble farmer and per his requests there will be no visitation or funeral. Because he has touched many lives and has lived in two states, there will be celebrations of life at a later date in Belvidere Illinois and then in Omro Wisconsin where his ashes will be spread on the family farm.
Special thanks to the many family members and farm family members who "stopped by" to lend a hand these past few months. Also thanks the nursing staff at the VA, Webster Mannor and Edenbrook of Omro for the excellent care they gave him.
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