Thomas Clyde Basche, 98, passed away on April 6, 2021. Born on July 23, 1922, Thomas was the eldest of three sons of Emerson Clyde and Loretto (Clark) Basche. He received a parochial school education, graduating 8th grade at St. John the Evangelist, Cathedral High School and St. Norbert High School, where he was a member of the Wisconsin Catholic High School championship basketball team.
He enjoyed himself in athletics, playing more than 20 years in De Pere fast-pitch softball on a championship team. Tom received a basketball scholarship to De Paul University by Coach Ray Meyer. Tom graduated from St. Norbert College with a BA degree in Philosophy and completed graduate studies in Social Work from UW Madison. He was inducted as a St. Norbert Golden Knight and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. He also received an appointment to West Point Military Academy.
Tom was married to Marie (Smits) on November 25, 1948 and celebrated 57 years together. They enjoyed world travel during which he was also tracing genealogy in Ireland, Germany, and throughout the U.S.A. Most remembered was a trip to Singapore, and Malaysia. Yet some of his fondest memories were cross-country travel to all 50 states, and many years camping with his family and the many summers at the family cottage with close “first cousins†from Highland Park, Illinois, just being there for his family.
He was very active in civic and professional (involvement). As a teenager he was a Columbian Squire and later initiated as a Knight of Columbus- Council #617. Later he was a charter member of De Pere Abbot Pennings council- 3995- where he was elected Grand Knight. He was a charter member of St. Jude Assembly- 4th degree, elected Faithful Navigator and a member of the Honor Guard, he served as Knights of Columbus Diocesan Director, and Area Coordinator, and as State Membership and Ceremonial Director and 3rd degree Initiation Staff. During 28 winters in Alabama and Florida helped form a new Knights of Columbus Council in Gulf Shores, having received approval from Bishop Oscar Liphstrom. He was also active in Lay Ministry. In 1998, he and Marie were elected as Wisconsin King and Queen of Mardi Gras in Gulf Shores.
Tom was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Community as President of Ushers, leader of COR (youth retreat), one of the original Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors.
Tom was a school principal and teacher at Champeau Grade School, a teacher at Wisconsin State Reformatory. He was employed over 38 years by the Brown County Welfare Department as a caseworker in Public Assistance, a Juvenile Court Probation Officer, and later as a Family Counselor in Family Court Commissioner Office. He was appointed as Deputy Welfare Director in Civil Defense and Special Deputy in Sheriff Department and acted as Welfare Dept. liaison to the Hmong Community.
Tom served as Vice-President of Brown County Community Council, Brown County Community Chest, Vice President of Wisconsin Juvenile Court Workers Association, and Secretary-Treasurer of Eastern Wisconsin Welfare Association. He retired after 25 years as chairman of the Brown County Employee Credit Union.
Tom was a Lambeau Field security supervisor of the Green Bay Packers personnel for more than 40 years. He began as an usher at old City Stadium.
Tom established cherished friendships, treasured his children and grandchildren, his genealogy, stories about family history of the Clark and Pardy family.
Tom was “full of funâ€, adventurous, gentile, intelligent, witty, humorous, loyal, and love of his family came first.
He is survived by his four children- Nancy (Marty) Schweiner, Susan Kane, Thomas Basche Jr., and Steve (Lisa) Basche; his grandchildren- Krista Nowicki (special friend, Wes), Caroline Kane (Larry) Houston, Stephanie Kane (special friend, Brad), Tracy Schweiner (Chris) Klein, Kayla Basche (special friend, Zach) Ashley Kellam, Ian Basche (fiancé, Tahlia); great-grandchildren- Cameron and Brody Klein, Kade and Kali Klapperich, and Maya Nowicki; sister-in-law Mary Lou Basche; and many nieces and nephews.
His beloved wife Marie preceded him death as well as his brothers Bob and Jack, his sisters-in-law Mary Margaret Basche and Adele Heuvelmans; son-in-law Mick Kane and daughter-in-law Michele Basche.
Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave, De Pere on Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, with a Knights of Columbus prayer service at 7:00pm. Visitation continues on Monday, April 12, 2021 at St. Mary Catholic Parish, 4805 Sportsman Dr. De Pere (Ledgeview) beginning at 9:30am until 10:45am, with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00am. Entombment will be at Allouez Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum |