Thomas H. Bracken

Thomas ‘Tom’ H. Bracken, 88, of La Crosse, Wis., died Wednesday, February 21, 2018, in Mayo Health System, La Crosse, Wis. He was born on September 14, 1929, to George and Mercedes (Helgeson) Bracken. He married Mary Hackner on June 28, 1952, in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Tom graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin.  He was employed as a salesman initially and then was a trust officer at the La Crosse Trust Company.

Tom enjoyed singing and was a member of the Blessed Sacrament funeral choir, Newman Center, and Cathedral choirs.  Tom also loved to sing with the Variety Singers of La Crosse, Wis., singing for the residents in area nursing homes.  He was an avid golfer and bridge player.  Tom was a member of Rotary, Jaycees and other civic and community organizations.

He was a fun loving guy and enjoyed many happy hours playing with his sons and grandchildren. Sometimes he played by his own rules. A Door County week in July with family was a summer highlight for him along with spending winter months in Arizona and Florida.

Special thanks to Kurt and Paula Papenfuss for their care and concern during Tom’s illness and Peggy Crowley for all her invaluable aid.  She was our angel.

He is survived by his wife; Mary of La Crosse, Wis.; three sons, William (Susan) Bracken, of Oshkosh, Wis., James (Sharon) Bracken of Gilbert, Ariz., and Christopher (Lisa Crolius) Bracken, of Hilton Head SC.; five grandchildren, Megan (Justin Massey) Bracken, Caitlin (Kyle) Mosel, Alec Bracken, Fallon (Blake) Wilson, and Sophia Bracken.  He is further survived by one great-grandson, Emmett Mosel, one sister Barbara (Charles) Skemp, of La Crescent, Minn., sister-in-law; Sue Hackner of Green Bay, Wis., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Patrick Bracken.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 26, 2018, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. Rev Peter Raj will officiate with private burial to be held in Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, Wis. Family and friends may visit from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass at Church on Monday.

Memorials are preferred to Aquinas High School, Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of your choice.