Thomas R. "TR" Hartwig, age 72 of Monroe, died on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Pleasant View Nursing Home, after a long struggle with Diabetes. He was born in Monroe on December 13, 1936 to Ned and Evelyn (McQuillan) Hartwig. Attending schools in Monroe throughout his life, Tom graduated from Monroe High School in 1954 and went on to graduate from Madison Business College. He married his high school sweetheart Carla Dallman on December 6, 1958.
Tom and Carla opened Tom's Grocery in 1959. Wisconsin cheese and beer played an important role in Tom's life. He taught his children the importance of hard work while owner of the Blue Mounds Cheese Company in Mt. Horeb. Tom worked for several years at the Monroe Cheese Corporation and for almost three decades at the Joseph Huber Brewing Company. He then worked at The Swiss Colony for seven years and retired in 2001.
Among his activities, Tom was a 50+ year member of the Smith Lodge #31 F&AM, Madison Zor Shrine, Madison Scottish Rite Bodies and Green County Shrine Club, where he served as a past president. Tom was recently honored as a lifetime member of Lions Club International and had served one year as president of Monroe Lions Club. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #754. Tom was a member of the Monroe Country Club, where he had served as president and where his passion for golf continued on to his children. Tom and Carla enjoyed weekend golf outings with friends. Tom loved the yearly fishing trips to Canada with his buddies. He also enjoyed bowling and bowled on the Swiss Cheese Shop team. Another love Tom had were the family trips he would take his children on whether it be just the family or they were joined by other families. In 1982 Tom and Carla bought a cottage on Lake Koshkonong. Tom enjoyed many special times at the lake with his grandchildren and met many new friends. As a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Tom was an avid Badger fan and even made a trip to the Rose Bowl with his wife and daughter. He was also a member of St. John's United Church of Christ. Tom always enjoyed the 10 O'Clock coffee group.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carla; four daughters, Teri of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Tracy (David) Jones of Lenexa Kansas, Trish (Kurt) Roman of Verona, Tiffany (Kyhl) Thomson of Le Sueur, Minnesota; and one son, Tim of Long Beach, California; six grandchildren, Elizabeth and Eric Jones, Quincy and Pierson Roman and Zack and Zoe Thomson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at St. John's United Church of Christ. Officiating will be Rev. Gretchen Sylvester. A visitation will be held on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at noon, at the Church. The Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is serving the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given the Shrine Crippled Childrens Hospital or the Lions Eye Bank.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Pleasant View Nursing Home for the wonderful care they gave Tom for the last two years.
Tom and Carla opened Tom's Grocery in 1959. Wisconsin cheese and beer played an important role in Tom's life. He taught his children the importance of hard work while owner of the Blue Mounds Cheese Company in Mt. Horeb. Tom worked for several years at the Monroe Cheese Corporation and for almost three decades at the Joseph Huber Brewing Company. He then worked at The Swiss Colony for seven years and retired in 2001.
Among his activities, Tom was a 50+ year member of the Smith Lodge #31 F&AM, Madison Zor Shrine, Madison Scottish Rite Bodies and Green County Shrine Club, where he served as a past president. Tom was recently honored as a lifetime member of Lions Club International and had served one year as president of Monroe Lions Club. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #754. Tom was a member of the Monroe Country Club, where he had served as president and where his passion for golf continued on to his children. Tom and Carla enjoyed weekend golf outings with friends. Tom loved the yearly fishing trips to Canada with his buddies. He also enjoyed bowling and bowled on the Swiss Cheese Shop team. Another love Tom had were the family trips he would take his children on whether it be just the family or they were joined by other families. In 1982 Tom and Carla bought a cottage on Lake Koshkonong. Tom enjoyed many special times at the lake with his grandchildren and met many new friends. As a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Tom was an avid Badger fan and even made a trip to the Rose Bowl with his wife and daughter. He was also a member of St. John's United Church of Christ. Tom always enjoyed the 10 O'Clock coffee group.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carla; four daughters, Teri of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Tracy (David) Jones of Lenexa Kansas, Trish (Kurt) Roman of Verona, Tiffany (Kyhl) Thomson of Le Sueur, Minnesota; and one son, Tim of Long Beach, California; six grandchildren, Elizabeth and Eric Jones, Quincy and Pierson Roman and Zack and Zoe Thomson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at St. John's United Church of Christ. Officiating will be Rev. Gretchen Sylvester. A visitation will be held on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at noon, at the Church. The Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is serving the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given the Shrine Crippled Childrens Hospital or the Lions Eye Bank.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Pleasant View Nursing Home for the wonderful care they gave Tom for the last two years.