Obituary that appeared in Wisconsin State Journal on Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 and The Wisconsin Dells Events on Sat. Jan. 19, 2002
Thomas D. Crist, 81, of Wisconsin Dells died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002 at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo.
Tom was born Aug. 25, 1920 in Ashland, Wis., the son of Edna (Meyer) and Thomas Crist. The family moved to Kilbourn, now Wisconsin Dells, when he was two-years-old. He attended grade school and graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1939 and earned a bachelor degree in science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1947.
During World War II, serving as an Army Air Corps First Lieutenant, Tom attended pilot, aerial gunnery and navigator school. He served as an aerial navigator flying 40 bombing missions in a B-24 Bomber in the South Central Pacific. He received six air medals and The Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Crist family owned and operated Dells Ice Cream and Tom was part owner with his father for 18 years. He also worked as an investigator in the Dairy, Food and Trade Division for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture in Madison from 1965 to 1972 and was the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection from 1972 to 1982.
After retirement he and his wife moved back to the Dells and Tom served as mayor of Wisconsin Dells for two terms from 1984 to 1988. He was also a member of the Wisconsin Dells School Board, serving as clerk from 1947 to 1964 and was a vice president of the Wisconsin State School Board Association in 1963. He was a member of the St. Clare Hospital Advisory Board from 1989 to 1994 and a life member and a Commander of the American Legion in the Dells. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for Dells Housing, a member of the Dells Country Historical Society and a member and elder of the United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin Dells.
Tom is survived by his wife Nona (Landt); sons David, Alan (Marie) and Peter (Diane); nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara Marini and Lu Schweiger; brother-in-law Eugene Landt; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one infant brother and his parents.
A family graveside service will be held at Spring Grove Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells at 10:30 a.m. Sat. Jan. 19. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at the United Presbyterian Church, 730 Cedar St., Wisconsin Dells, the Reverend Steven Keller officiating.
Fedderly-Axel Funeral Home of Wisconsin Dells assisted the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 64421, St. Paul, MN 55164, or to the United Presbyterian Church, Wisconsin Dells.