Thomas G. Soles

Thomas G. Soles, 78, of Fond du Lac, died Friday, October
24, 2014, at home.

 

He was born on March 25, 1936, in Fond du Lac, a son of
Harold J. and Josephine L. Abel Soles.  When
he was very young, the family moved to Eagle River where his father owned a
Ford dealership. 

 

Upon returning to Fond du Lac during World War II, Tom
attended Wilson and Lincoln Elementary Schools, Roosevelt Junior High School,
and graduated from Fond du Lac Senior High School in 1954.

 

In 1958, Tom graduated from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business
Administration.  His first accounting
position was with Lear Siegler Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He also worked in accounting positions at J.I.
Case Company in Winneconne, Wisconsin Wire Company in Appleton and from
1971-1982, at Hutter Construction Company in the capacities of comptroller and
corporate secretary.  In 1982, Tom
established Soles’ Accounting, serving as consultant to a number of small
construction companies, assisting with the computerization of their accounting
systems.

 

On August 26, 1972, he married Kathleen “Katie” McMillan at
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Beaver Dam.  
They have resided in Fond du Lac since their marriage.

 

Tom was a member of the United States Naval Reserves for 12
years.  He was a Scoutmaster in Grand
Rapids, Michigan and a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster in Oshkosh.  He was a member of Elks Lodge #57 for 39
years.  In past years, he served in
various capacities in the Fond du Lac Area United Way campaigns.  Since 1985, Tom dedicated his time and energy
to various conservation organizations. 
He led or supported initiatives that included promotion of waterfowl
conservation; the perpetuation of fishery through reef creation and restocking
of Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers; and lobbying for protection of state
waterways.  He held memberships in a
number of conservation organizations.  He
was a member of the Winnebago Flyway Chaper of Ducks Unlimited since 1972,
serving as chair, twice; Walleyes for Tomorrow (statewide Board of Directors)
serving, over time, as comptroller, president, chairman of the board, and
project manager; Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin, serving as executive
director for a number of years.  He also
belonged to local and area Walleye and Musky chapters, and  served on committees studying and promoting  land conservation.

 

He is survived by his wife, Katie; three children: Thomas H.
Soles (Helen Sosinski), Gary J. Soles (Nancy Martin), and Elizabeth (Doug)
Staab; five grandchildren:  Bryan Soles,
Matthew (Tammy Werner) Soles, Tesla Soles, Christina Staab, and Samantha Staab;
and one great-granddaughter, Molly Soles. 
He is further survived by his brother, Roger (Carol) Soles; his sister,
Arleen (Junior) Olson; a brother-in-law, Richard McMillan; four sisters-in-law:  Elaine Dorn, Patricia McMillan, Violet
McMillan, and Inez McMillan; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews,
and great-great nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and
father-in-law, Daniel and Helen McMillan; 
five brothers-in-law:  Malcolm
McMillan, Eugene McMillan, Winston McMillan, Wilbur Quandt and Glenn Dorn; four
sisters-in-law:  Joyce McMillan, LaVita
McMillan,  Marjorie Quandt and Patricia
Soles.  He is further preceded in death
by his aunts and uncles:  Helen Soles,
Edward Soles, Lorene (Al) Walgenbach, Lillian Abel, George (Mary) Abel, and
Birdie (Bill) Galow, and by former daughter-in-law, Robin Soles.

 

A Eucharist of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00
a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 51
West Division Street, Fond du Lac, with The Very Rev. Brian Beno officiating,
and the Rev. Deacon Michael Hackbarth and Rev. Michael Morning assisting.

 

Cremation will take place with burial in Rienzi Cemetery.

 

The visitation will be from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
October 28, 2014, at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 East Division
Street, Fond du Lac, and on Wednesday at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time
of service.

 

A memorial service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday,
at Mach, by the officers of Fond du Lac Elks Lodge #57.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Fond du
Lac Humane Society or the Fond du Lac Salvation Army.  Unspecified memorials received will be directed
to other organizations Tom supported.

 

Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.