Thomas Rotz

On December 17, 2023, while at the St. Cloud, MN, Hospital, Thomas Herman Rotz, 73, held the hand of Jesus, Our Savior and passed into his eternal life.   A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM with a funeral prayer service at 2:00 PM on Wednesday December 27, 2023 at Johnson Hagglund Funeral and Cremation.  Interment will be held at Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield, MN.

Tom was born February 2, 1950, in Racine, WI to Herman Henry and Delores Frances (Burdick) Rotz.  He grew up in Racine being baptized and confirmed at the St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church.  Tom was a 1968 graduate of Racine Horlick High School, and a 1972 graduate of the University of WI-Stout with a BS degree in Industrial Arts Education.  At Stout, Tom met the love of his life, Sharon Vickie Chase and they married in 1972.

While living in Menomonie, WI, Tom was a radio dispatcher and deputy for the Dunn County Sheriff's Dept.  After college, he joined the architectural firm of Thern and Associates where he designed and supervised the construction of churches, schools and jail facilities in WI.  Tom went on to work as a Project Engineer improving processes and techniques for Waupaca Foundry, a leading producer of high quality gray iron castings.

Fishing was his passion. Starting with a local bass club, Tom enjoyed competing in B.A.S.S tournaments.  Placing in the top anglers of Wisconsin, he competed in the 1980 National tournament on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in Oklahoma. Tom continued his fishing adventures by completing in multiple professional Walleye tournaments in WI and the Midwest.

His love of fishing could only be topped by his love of family. Whether it was cooking meatballs for a Father/Daughter Girl Scout banquet or holding a freezing firehose to flood an outdoor youth hockey rink, Tom was always ready for his children.  Later, each summer, his grandchildren enjoyed "Camp Grandma and Grandpa" where they fished, explored, played board games, and shared their secrets with grandpa.

After retirement, Tom and Sharon (still his bride), enjoyed several cruises exploring Europe and the Caribbean. Topping the list was an all family cruise to Alaska.  To be closer to family, Tom and Sharon moved to Litchfield, MN where they met many new friends and attended Cornerstone Church.

Surviving Tom is his loving family; wife, Sharon; daughter Stephanie (Chris) Bowron; son Jeffrey (Katie) Rotz; grandchildren Emily and Nicholas Bowron, Bryson and Delilah Rotz; sister Janice Patlyek; sister-in-law Terrie (Gene) Grapa and nieces and nephews.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14.2-3 NKJV