Thomas R. Harer Sr.

THOMAS R. HARER, SR.

June 5, 1939 – September 30, 2024

Thomas (“Tom”) R. Harer, Sr., 85, of New Richmond WI, passed away peacefully at his home on September 30, 2024.

Tom was born on June 5, 1939, to Lawrence and Mary (Meath) Harer in New Richmond, WI.  His childhood was spent growing up on the family farm which instilled in him a strong work ethic, an appreciation of family and community that worked and celebrated together during lean and abundant times, and a deep faith that carried and guided him through his life.

In 1957 Tom graduated from New Richmond High School, he then joined the military services, serving in the Army.  During Tom’s military service he was stationed in Oxford, OH where he met and married his beloved wife, Barbara Davis, on September 2, 1961.  Their marriage was blessed with three children: Tom Jr., Colleen and Lawrence.

After Tom was honorably discharged from the service, he and his wife Barb set out to Wisconsin to begin their young married life, eventually settling in Waconia Minnesota to raise their family.  Tom had a natural aptitude for electrical engineering and a natural career path in this area followed.  Later in life he went back to school attending Metropolitan State University where he obtained his college degree.  In 1987 Tom began his own consulting firm in which he would test products and assist companies receive the required UL/CSA approvals before going on the market.

Retirement for Tom was returning to his Wisconsin roots, and with his wife Barb they built their retirement home in Star Prairie, WI.  Tom and Barb spent several years in Star Prairie enjoying the rural country life before eventually returning to New Richmond, WI.  During the winter months, Tom and Barb also enjoyed traveling to Florida and Dauphine Island, Alabama.

Tom was a man devout in his faith and praying the rosary daily held special meaning for him.  He would not let a day pass without setting time aside for prayer.  In visiting Tom, you would always find his prayer beads on the kitchen table with a second set on his bedside nightstand.  Tom was also a man who had many hobbies and interests.  A special hobby of Tom’s was woodworking, he would make bird houses that were placed around the family farm and at Christmas time there would be doll cribs and little work benches he had made and placed under the Christmas tree much to the delight of his children.  Tom also ordered a kit and assembled the family’s first color, push button television set; his children have fond memories of quietly watching him in his workshop and his joy when it was completed.  Tom enjoyed researching and learning about every hobby he had, as much as the actual hobby itself.  He never tired of learning new things, and his age was just a number.

Tom is survived and will be deeply missed by his children Tom (Edie) Harer Jr., Colleen (Gary) Lockwood, Lawrence (Susann DeTienne) Harer, 9 grandchildren, as well as his sister Barbara A. Harer, brother Donald (Kathy) Harer, brother-in-law, Rick Eisele, sister-in-law Mary Lou Johnson, sister-in-law Karen (Gary) Patterson, and brother-in-law Buddy (Kathy) Davis and many nieces and nephews.

Tom is greeted in heaven by his beloved wife Barbara, parents Lawrence and Mary Harer, brother Lawrence Harer, Jr., sister Marilyn (Harer) Eisele, daughter-in-law Amy (Polikoff) Harer, mother and father-in-law Albert and Viola Davis, brother-in-law Kenny Davis, brother-in-law Buddy Dalluge, sister and brother-in-law Max and Janet Wear and brother-in-law Axel Johnson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday October 26, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Church in Erin Prairie, WI.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to Mass at the Church with a luncheon to follow.