Thomas Gwidt

Thomas Dean Gwidt, 76, Rib Mountain, died Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with his loving family at his side.

Tom was born March 20, 1945, in Wausau to the late John and Helen (Lake) Gwidt Sr.  He had the distinction of being the last of the 9 Gwidt boys to deliver the Record-Herald as a paperboy.  Following his graduation from high school, Tom began working for Schneck Standard Station and later Schuette Builders and Wausau Concrete. Later in life, Tom worked at the Marathon County Parks Department and was the Range Master for the Marathon County Shooting Range along with working seasonally for Newbies Christmas Tree Lot for many years.

On January 10, 1970, Tom married the love of his life, Barbara Bendrick, at the First Presbyterian Church in Wausau.  They spent 51 wonderful years together and raised three amazing children: Glenn, Lucinda, and Jennifer. Nothing meant more to Tom than his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They were his entire world.

Tom often joked about having his “Roofer’s Card” as evidence of his strong work ethic throughout his life.  Tom enjoyed camping and fishing in his free time.  His greatest passion was cars, antique cars, and working on them.  He was a self-taught mechanic and if he did not know how to fix something, he always knew someone who did.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Barbara; children, Glenn (Nancy) Peters, Lucinda Gwidt, and Jennifer (Larry) Vlietstra; grandchildren, Amanda (Keith) Vlietstra, Brenton Peters, Lorania (Cory) Isaacson, Alex Vlietstra and Mason Vlietstra; great-grandchildren, Kendyl, Olyvia, Haylie, Owen, Paige, and Johanna; siblings, Dorothy Poulas, John (Donna) Gwidt Jr., Roger Gwidt and Frank Gwidt; and extended family and friends.  He is preceded in death by his siblings, Donald, Lucy, Bob, Wally, Chuck, Jim, and Jerry.

The funeral service for Tom will be at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Helke Funeral Home.  Pr. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, April 16 at Helke Funeral Home, resuming on Saturday at 10:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home.  Tom will be laid to rest in Pine Grove Cemetery.  The service will be live-streamed on Tom’s obituary page at helke.com beginning at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 17.  Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.

Sincere appreciation goes to Dr. Harish Ahuja, the nurses and staff of the Aspirus Cancer Center, Dr. Gary Sweet of Pine Ridge Surgery Center, and Dr. Gerald Grim of Marshfield Clinic for their compassionate care for Tom over the years.