Thomas J. Lewandowski Sr.

Thomas John Lewandowski Sr passed away peacefully at the age of 90, surrounded by family, on October 21, 2023, at home, where he was born and lived his entire life. He is now at peace playing polkas for his beloved wife Stella, whom he dearly missed.

Thomas John Lewandowski was born March 22, 1933, in the town of Dewey, the 4th of 5 children of John & Pearl (Jazdzewski) Lewandowski.

Tommy grew up working alongside his parents and sisters on the family dairy farm. He attended Liberty Bell School and then PJ Jacobs through the 11th grade, when he had to quit school to run the family farm.

During his youth, Tom discovered his First Love for "Music." He learned to play the concertina "by ear" and taught many others to play over his lifetime. He was a very talented musician, and when he retired from farming, he learned to read, write, and transpose his own https://youtu.be/TfjgdUrR3yk?simusic. He was always sharing his gift with others.

Tom played his concertina whenever and wherever he was able. He played with a variety of different groups, too many to mention, for any and all occasions. Many local taverns purchased their own concertinas just in case Tommy stopped by and didn't have his with him. Although he seldom traveled without his precious squeezebox.

Thomas met his "2nd Love," Stella Louise Wise, in 1959 through her sister Alice and then soon-to-be husband Ben Obremski, who often played the drums with Tom. In June 1961, Tom was in a horrific car accident after a playing engagement, which left him with paralysis on his lower right side. He was told he would never walk again and couldn't father any children.

Despite this, Stella stayed by his side over his lengthy hospital stay and recovery. While Tom was hospitalized, he played his squeezebox for the children's ward at St Michael's Hospital. While he healed, Stella and others assisted the family with all the chores and work on the farm. A benefit was held for Tom, and they needed a concertina player, so Tom played his squeeze box in a wheelchair to help out. He proved them wrong within two years after his accident and walked down the aisle to his sweetheart.

Thomas married Stella on May 29, 1963, at St Casimir Catholic Church, where he was a member since birth/baptism and served mass until he was over 30. On his wedding day, Tom had to explain to the priest that he couldn't serve mass that day because he was the groom.
Tom and Stella purchased the family dairy farm shortly after, where they raised their ten children with a strong faith in God and a love for music.
They both were very active members at St Casimir and could always be found participating and teaching their faith. They were members of St Casimir parish societies, playing music for church picnics and numerous masses, baking bread for church events, and teaching CCD, including taking turns with other parents and holding confirmation classes in their homes.

Tom's love for music never wavered. He insisted on passing his love for music onto his children in hopes of his dreams of a family band. His dream came true, and The Marie Sisters and Company played for numerous engagements and continued to share their talents with multiple parishes around the state, nursing homes, and the Sisters of St Joseph Convent, where Stella worked. As the family grew, so did the passion for music, thus expanding the family band to include many of his grandchildren.

Tom taught many the art and the joy of music and his love for playing the concertina. From his early teenage years to well into his late 80's, Tom shared his time and talents with anyone who asked. He was also very proud of his honorary granddaughter, Amber (Fochs) DeBroux, whom he began teaching to play the concertina when she was only 7. Amber went on to play many events with him and the family band, and she continues to carry on his love for the concertina.

After retiring from dairy farming in 1991, Tom needed to get out of Stella's hair, so he also took up baking. He discovered he loved to bake bread and would bake almost daily, creating new recipes for his growing family and donating all the delicious bread to many different church bake sales, fundraisers, and bazaars.

Another hobby Tom started was his homemade "medicine." He swore by it, a bit of honey, ginger, lemon, and Everclear; you could get rid of any sickness with just a few shots.

He especially enjoyed playing concertina and donating his loaves of bread to the Relay for Life of Portage County for 15 years, where his whole family team fundraised after Stella had her first cancer diagnosis in 2000.

Thomas Sr's legacy lives on through his nine children: Susan Marie (Mark) Rogacheski; Linda Marie (Dave) Johns; (Mary) Thomas Lewandowski Jr: Paul (Cheryl) Lewandowski: John Lewandowski: Elizabeth Marie "Betti" (Allen) Trzebiatowski: Frances Marie (Michael Jr.) Peplinski: Ann Marie (Joseph) Cisewski: and Jacob Lewandowski

28 Grandchildren / 15 Great Grand Children & one on the way:
Karleisa Rogacheski (Kevin Duffy): Kaitlyn Rogacheski: Sarah Johns: Allison (Tom) Eberhardt (Artemas & Astrid): April (Julie) Doucette: Austin (Haley) Lewandowski (Mattix) Ariel Lewandowski: David (Carrie) Jezeski: Justin Jezeski (Makayela & Cecilia): Kristen (Eric Arendt) Jezeski: Jessica (Anthony) Pickard (Baby Girl on the way): Cassandra (Nicolus Komatz) Lewandowski (Athrun): Robert Lewandowski: Nicklaus Lewandowski: Ace Depka (Lexie & Maddie): Jasmine (Phillip White) Lewandowski ( Eadric & Magnus): Isaac (Bailey) Trzebiatowski (Leo, Sophie, & Walter) Orean (Peyton Behnke) Trzebiatowski: Uriah (Max Cira) Trzebiatowski: Patrick Peplinski: Rebekah Peplinski: Mikayla Peplinski: Zachary Peplinski: Johanna Peplinski: Joshua Cisewski: Shayna Cisewski: Noah Cisewski (Tori Stormoen): Amber (Michael) DeBroux (August & Violet)

He is further survived by his sister, Barbara (James) Grezenski, and in-laws Alice (Ben) Obremski, Judy Wise, Rosemarie Wise, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom Sr was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Stella Louise; his son, Patrick Allen; His parents, John & Pearl Lewandowski; his in-laws, Joseph & Clara Wise; His siblings/in-laws: Grace (Joseph) Dulak: Gertrude (John) Dulak: Dorothy (Stanley) Napiwocki. In-laws: Leroy (Margie) Wise: Leona (Virgil) McCarthy: Viola (Raymond) Cisewski: Wilma (Rev. Robin) Fink: Cecilia "Marie" (Willard) Iczkowski: Sarah (Richard) Hulsart: Archie Wise: Charles "Chuck" Wise: and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. with a one-hour visitation prior at 10:30 a.m. located at St. Casimir Catholic Church, 203 W. Casimir Road, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Rev. Monsignor Joseph Diermeier, St Mary's Catholic Church, will preside. Concelebrating is Father James Trempe, St. Francis Xavier; Father Rajan Anandan, St. Wenceslaus; and Father Nathan Packi, St. Wenceslaus; Father John Potaczek, St. Casimir; Deacon Ray Heitzinger, St. Casimir. Burial will follow in the St. Casmir Parish Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a rosary service at 7 p.m. at the Pisarski Funeral Home, 2911 Plover Road, Plover, WI, 54467. Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the family. For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Jason and all the Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services staff who helped with the care of Tom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfjgdUrR3yk

Please click the link above if you would like to watch Tom's Funeral Mass.