Thomas Edward “Tom” Wiles, 85 years old, of Milan, Missouri passed away Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Milan Health Care Center in Milan.
Tom was born September 28, 1934 in Stanley, Wisconsin to Maurice and Edna (Western) Wiles. Donna Mae Svoma became his wife of 66 years on June 26, 1954, she survives him of the home. Also surviving: His children, Douglas Wiles and wife Anna of Milan, Sharon Shivers and husband Keith of Carlisle, Iowa; Timothy Wiles and wife Lori of Swisher, Iowa. Grandchildren, Trinity Wiles and wife Jennifer, Tana Dixon and husband Deron, Koby Shivers and wife Mandee, Kray Shivers and wife Shawna, Sam Wiles and Friend Alexis Hoerres, and Hannah Anderson and husband Alex. Great Grandchildren, Maddison, Derrick, Dillon, and Devon Wiles, Thatcher, Lorelei, Hallie, and Emmalinn Shivers, Margot Yvonne and Frances Mae Anderson; Siblings: Jack Ray Wiles and wife Sandra of Normal, Illinois,
Kathryn Sherman and husband John of Terrell, Texas, Sisters-in-law and, Sandy Johnson, Jacksonville, Arkansas, Betty Wiles, Springfield, Missouri, and Mariane Wiles of Watertown, SD; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: his parents; In-laws, Alfred and Emma Svoma; brothers, Gerald Allen Wiles and Richard Morris Wiles; nephews, Kirk and Scott Wiles; and niece, Elaine Sherman.
Tom grew up in Wisconsin, attending the Crystal Spring one-room school in Cobban, Wisconsin where he first met Donna and they shared 7th and 8th grades together. He attended high school in Chippewa Falls, WI and graduated at Stanley High School in Stanley, WI in 1952. As he grew up, Tom worked in his parents’ store, tavern, cheese factory, and the farm. While a senior in high school he worked at a filling station, pumping gas and repairing cars. In 1957 he moved his family to Milan and opened the Sullivan County Cheese Factory. In 1965 the family then moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin where he worked construction for a short time before moving on to Cadott, Wisconsin where he worked at what he enjoyed the most—making cheese—at Huhn’s Cheese Factory. He continued making cheese after moving back to Milan in 1967. In 1973 he began repairing and selling office equipment, retiring from Pro-Tech in Kirksville in 1996. After retirement, Tom helped Donna with her in-home childcare service where he enjoyed playing cards and games with the kids. He helped with many things, but his official title was “poop detector”.
Tom loved music and played the saxophone and clarinet for several dance bands, playing Polkas and Waltzes for numerous dances. He also spent a lot of time on the Chippewa River, swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing, ice skating, playing hockey, and diving to the bottom for rocks. He was a member of Red Arrow division of the Wisconsin National Guard, a member of Abbotsford, Wisconsin Musicians Union. He held a pilot’s license for many years and belonged to a flying club. He had a Wisconsin Cheesemakers license and also was a member of the American Dairy Association.
Funeral services for Tom will be held 3:00 Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Schoene-Ruschmeier Funeral Home in Milan. A visitation is scheduled for 1:00 PM until the time of the service, also at the funeral home. At a later date, his cremains will be inurned at Bohemian National Cemetery in Cadott, Wisconsin.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bohemian National Cemetery.