Thomas J. Rice

Thomas J. Rice, 80, of Oostburg, went to be home with his Heavenly Father on March 21, 2025, surrounded by his family after a brief illness.

Tom was born on November 6, 1944, in Chicago, IL, to James E. and Lucile B. (Brust) Rice. He attended Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights and continued his education at Carroll College.

Throughout his career, Tom worked in human resources management. He started at Ford Motor Company and then at the EJ&E Railroad in Joliet IL. He worked at several other places throughout his career. The one he talked about the most was his time at Omniquip in Port Washington.

On June 24, 1967, Tom married Susan Foster, the love of his life. Together, they raised four children, finding immense joy in being actively involved in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Tom was a dedicated member of the Sheboygan Evangelical Free Church, where he served faithfully as an elder and led numerous Bible studies over the years. His heart for service extended into the wider community, volunteering enthusiastically with several local organizations and nonprofits including Kiwanis, Rotary, and BLF Ministries, among many others. Tom's generous and willing spirit led him to continuously seek opportunities to help others.

He and his wife were passionate about supporting Great Marriages of Sheboygan County. During their tenure with this organization, they lovingly mentored over 100 couples, embodying Tom’s deep commitment to marriage, family values, and the strength found within loving partnerships.

In his free time, Tom enjoyed golfing, woodworking, and playing card games of all kinds. Known for being faithful, thoughtful, and articulate, Tom's life was a profound example of unconditional love. Above all else, his faith was his guiding principle, steering his actions and life decisions. Tom was always quick to share stories of God's faithfulness and grace, serving as an inspiration to all who knew him.

Tom is survived by his wife, Sue Rice of Oostburg; four children: Kevin (Lynda) of Knoxville, IA, Doug (Kristen) Rice of Oostburg, Jeff (Leigh Ann) Rice of Fort Smith, AR, and Sarah (Billy) Spaker of Zebulon, NC; 20 grandchildren - Seth (Grace), Caleb (Mariah), Rachel Adolph (Nathanael), Micah (Grace), Rebekah Weadick (Benjamin), Hannah Fears (Andrew), Esther, Jacob, Joseph, Ellie, Karma Spaker, Azalea Spaker, Grace McGinnis (Caleb), Ben, Elijah, Ruth, Thad, Naomi, Anna, and Eden; 15 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gerald (Marge) Rice of AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lucile Rice, and a great-granddaughter, Fiona Rice.

A memorial service to honor his life will take place at Sheboygan eFree Church, 1710 N. 15th Street, on Saturday April 5th, at 12:00 pm with Pastor Jon MacDonald officiating. Visitation will take place at church from 9:00 am until 11:45 am. A private inurnment will take place before the service at Union Cemetery in Cedar Grove.

Memorial contributions can be made in his honor to Great Marriages, Love In Action Ministry of eFree, or Campus Life.

For more information and online condolences, and a livestream of the memorial service, please visit www.wenigfh.com for more details.