Thomas J. Armstrong Sr. of Waukesha passed away peacefully on Friday, May 12, 2017 at the age of 82. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin on June 23, 1934 the son of John and Grace (nee Botham) Armstrong. He was a 1952 graduate of Edgewood High School and went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UW-Madison in 1956. Following his education, he proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1956 until 1958 stationed in Germany. On October 25, 1958, he married the love of his life Elsie Cosgriff of Olivia, Minnesota. Thomas started his career working at the American Heart Association followed by a 38-year exemplary career at Robert W. Baird & Co. where he retired in 1997 as First Vice President. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed reading, golfing, music, playing the harmonica and storytelling. He loved spending time with his family and friends and enjoyed many trips to the north woods at the Baird Cabin and at Green Lake, MN.
He will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of almost 59 years, Elsie of Waukesha and their children, Thomas Jr. (Kim) of Waukesha, Nancy (Scott) Stevenson of Town of Delafield, Melissa (Dan) Palubicki of Caledonia, Jennifer (Jim) Rude of Wales, Patrick (Karen) of Menomonee Falls, Peter (Laura) of Waukesha and Greg Seeger of Brookfield. He was the cherished grandfather of Amanda (Tommy) Gabert of Milwaukee, Jonathan (fiancée Madeleine) Armstrong of Texas, Stephanie Armstrong of Waukesha, Michael Armstrong of Waukesha, Jacob Seeger of Cottage Grove, Kathryn (Nick) Bell of Madison, Austin (fiancée Breana) Seeger of Madison, Natalie Armstrong of Menomonee Falls and Benjamin and Alexander Armstrong of Waukesha and one great-granddaughter Cordellia “Cora” Bell. He is further survived by his brothers, George (Linda) of Fond du Lac and Paul of Waunakee, his sister Kay Dunn of Waunakee along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Jerry, Jack, Cookie, Virginia and Sally.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 17th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha. Visitation continues Thursday, May 18th at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.