Thomas Sullwold 04/01/2025

Thomas James Sullwold – Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, died on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.
Tom was born the third son of Alfred and Doris (Danielson) Sullwold on November 1, 1944, in Stillwater Minnesota. He took over the family farm at the age of 16 after his father passed of Leukemia. Tom was one of the Charter Members of Cross Lutheran Church in Roberts WI, sang in the church choir and remained a member to the end of his life. Above all his belief in Jesus Christ and his faith was the most important thing to him. Tom’s wish was to leave a legacy. A legacy that those he loved and interacted with would be able to see that he was a Man of God through his actions and words. To meet Tom and visit with him made it hard to forget him. But to know him, was to LOVE him.
Tom went to elementary school at Long Lake in a one room school in Marine on St. Croix and Roberts, he was a 1962 graduate of St. Croix Central High School, and went to college at the School of Hard Knocks. He married Nona (Rode) May 22, 1965, and was married for 50 years before losing her to cancer in April of 2015. Tom and Nona had three daughters together; Janell, Cheryl and Pamela. Tom loved his family and enjoyed family gatherings and visits. The more children around the better it was.
Tom also loved farming! It was his calling; until health issues forced him to give it all up the fall of 2024. Tom was diagnosed with glioblastoma March of 2023. In January of 1975 Tom started working for the local John Deere dealer in New Richmond WI and stayed for 50 years. He enjoyed working with all the people at work, developing wonderful lifetime relationships. Tom loved being busy. He didn’t like to sit still and at times you could catch him dancing all by himself in the barn walk, the shed or whenever the beat caught him the music was always on.
On April 1, 2018, Tom was married to Fran Heinbuch. When setting up the date they were thinking more about the wedding being on Easter Sunday and New Beginnings: Later realizing it was April Fool’s Day. Tom said he would never forget it and he didn’t. He eventually moved to what he called the suburbs of Forest while keeping his roots in Roberts. Together Tom and Fran planted many trees and flowers making it feel like they had a little piece of heaven. Getting married meant taking on even more family and events. He loved it all and thrived in the comings and goings of meals, parties, sport games, concerts, bonfires, corn roasts, road trips and so much more. Tom and Fran also traveled from the Arctic Circle, a side trip while in Alaska to the Panama Canal. Doing a lot of side road trips, trying to find a back road they hadn’t been on before (preferably NOT GRAVEL). One of their favorite things to do was to stop and visit someone they hadn’t seen in a long time. It didn’t make a difference who knew the person or people, they were a friend.
He is preceded in death by his father, Alfred Sullwold; mother, Doris Erler; step-father, Donald Erler; wife, Nona Sullwold; brother, Richard Sullwold; sister-in-law, Terry Sullwold; and lifelong friend, Ken Brown. Tom is survived by his wife, Fran Heinbuch; children, Janell (Douglas) Bakken, Cheryl (Ronald) Cormican, Pamela (Carlos) Varela, Stephanie (Caleb Awoseye) Heinbuch, Gregory (Amity) Heinbuch; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Isaac) Johanek, Benjamin (Kaia) Bakken, Amanda (Race) Rolling, Josh (Jo) Cormican, Kyle (Haley) Cormican, Jessica Cormican, Elvis Cormican, Sam Cormican, Nicole Varela, Neena Varela; Kristine (Ryan) Porter, Makayla Sina, Bolu Awoseye, Samuel Awoseye, Spencer Heinbuch, Reece Heinbuch, Kevin Heinbuch, Keyla Heinbuch; great-grandchildren, Nora, Helen, Emmett, Juniper, Boone, Flynn, Luella, Ryder, Rowan, Mirabell, Tahlia, Aria, Thad; brother, Stan Sullwold; sister-in-law, Gayle Sullwold; nieces, nephews, and many friends.
A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11 am at Cross Lutheran Church 1246 County Rd Tt, Roberts, WI. Visitation was held on Monday, April 7, 2025 from 4-7 pm and on Tuesday from 10-11 am at Cross Lutheran Church. Interment was in Warren Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mayo Clinic Research. Tom truly appreciated his care there and his biggest wish was to help others battling this devastating disease. Donations can be made in memory of Tom Sullwold, donation supporting “other”, and write-in “Glioblastoma Research ”.  https://give.mayoclinic.org/give/609586/#!/donation/checkout.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Tom’s service