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Thomas J. Moran, age 76, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at the
Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center due to complications of Alzheimer's.
Tom was born on May 15, 1929, in La Crosse, the son of Ruth (Faas) and Lloyd
Moran. He married his childhood sweetheart Jeanne Burian on June 2, 1951, in
Holyoke, Mass., and they would have celebrated 55 years of marriage in June
of this year. A graduate of Adams-Friendship High School, Tom received his
teaching degree from the UW-Stevens Point. In between he served four years
in the U.S. Navy, including participation in the Berlin Airlift in Germany
with the VR6 Squadron. He taught in the Madison Metropolitan School System
for 32 years. Tom was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for
teaching prior to retiring in 1988 to play golf, travel, garden and spend
memorable time with family and friends. He had a special gift for teaching
and used it well throughout his life. Tom was a role model to all he met and
mentor to any who chose to seek his counsel. He had a special passion for
people and a gift for inspiring others to discover and enjoy the best within
themselves. Many have benefited from the "magic" of Tom's style. He was
particularly gifted in connecting with those who needed his caring and
unique abilities the most. Tom's passion for teaching was only surpassed by
his love of God and family. His unending devotion to family, love of life
and unique ability to create joy were apparent to all who knew him, shared
his infectious smile or walked into one of his magnificent gardens. Tom was
an avid golfer. He also had a passion for gardening, travel, crossword
puzzles, reading and playing cards. Special thanks to Barb and Gary Humphrey
for completing his euchre four-some in recent years. Tom enjoyed the Hall of
Fame and Elks Clubs, was a founding member of the infamous "88 Club", and
closely followed the Green Bay Packers and UW and Madison West High School
sports. He enjoyed leading and taking trips with various Boy Scout Troops
while teaching at Cherokee Heights School. Survivors include Tom's beloved
wife, Jeanne; his three loving daughters, Terry (Peter) Jacobs of
Libertyville, Ill., Paula (Steve) Toltzien of Fitchburg, and Julie (Neil)
Kiser of Aurora, Ill.; his adoring grandchildren, Matt (Caryn), Tina and
Kelly Toltzien, Sarah and Kate Jacobs, and Emma Kiser; and his
great-grandchildren, Logan and Zoe Toltzien. He is further survived by his
brothers and sister and their families, Lloyd "Bud" (Virg), Jack (Kathy),
Richard (Sue), David (Jan), Jim (Gloria), Charles "Chuck" (Linda), Mike
(Sue) and Carole (Tony) Roseberry. Surviving in-laws include, Gladys York,
Marge Bell and Charlene and Dick Robb. Tom also had the good fortune to be
loved by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. He
was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Don and Robert "Jake";
brothers-in-law, Stuart Bell and Aaron York; sister-in-law, Marilyn Moran;
and his mother and father-in-law, Mary and Bill Burian. A memorial Mass will
be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE
CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, with Monsignor Kenneth J.
Fiedler officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time
of Mass on Saturday. There will be a processional for placement of his urn
at Sunset Memory Gardens, immediately followed by a luncheon in the
Gathering Space of Queen of Peace Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may
be made in Tom's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Dane County, Queen
of Peace Church, or to the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in
Fitchburg. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608)
238-3434 www.cressfuneralservice.com
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