Age 65. Born October 14, 1946, born to eternal life on February 5, 2012.Went home to be with his beloved wife Marye. Left to cherish his memory are his five children; Mark (Tammy) Wezyk, Julie (Stefano) Liotta, Terry (Dana) Wezyk, Susan Stanley, and Paul (Cheryl) Wezyk. Loving and adored Grandpa of Dalton, Casey, Jordan, Angela, Kaitlyn, Luke, and Thomas. Also survived by three brothers; James (Kathy), Denis (Sandy), and Ronald (Judy) Wezyk and two sisters; Carol (the late Jim) Jilek, and Rosie (John) Maybee. Further survived by his mother-in-law, Margaret Ameen, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Tom started his career with Milwaukee Railroad/Canadian Pacific Railroad at the age of 18 until his retirement in 2006. The grandson of Polish immigrants, Tom Wezyk learned the virtues of hard work and a steady paycheck at an early age. For Wezyk, they have always gone hand in hand. "I've been working since I was 12, even if it was just picking up scrap in the yard for a few bucks here and there." he said, reflecting on his blue collar beginnings. But for the first time in his lifetime, he will be getting one without the other beginning October 31. "It just dawned on me a couple days ago that for the first time in my life, I'm going to be paid for not working." he explained. "I can't get over that." Following in the footsteps of this father and grandfather, Wezyk went to work as a carman for the Milwaukee Road in 1965. He coopered, the process of adding plywood lining to freight cars, on the old Blue Mound Cleaning Track. "It was wonderful," Wezyk said. "It was a great job." After a year of coopering, he went to Davies yard for three years and then to the Milwaukee Depot, where he received his carman's date. At that point he decided to change professions, going to work for a company that made advertising displays. But he soon returned to the railroad, going to work at the Milwaukee shops in 1973. A year later he became a foreman in the train yard. The next two decades were a series of transfers, shop closing, mergers and promotions between Green Bay, Chicago and Milwaukee, culminating in his last move, back to Muskego Yard in 1999 as the Milwaukee Mechanical manager. Wezyk had served as a manager since 1990. Wezyk admits the itinerant lifestyle, though it was essential for a successful railroad management career, sometimes placed strain on his family life. "I was gone or away from home for about 12 years of my career," he said. "Sometimes it was tough on my younger kids." But his family, particularly his wife of 41 years, Mary, was strong enough to overcome the inconveniences. "There's always a good woman behind the scenes," he said. "In retrospect, she's thankful we stuck it out with the railroad, even thought there was some hard living. You did what you had to do in those days." Though he's been transferred, he can say one thing about his railroad career. he's never ben laid off. In face, no Wezyk has. Tom's grandfather, Frank Wezyk, who emigrated from Poland, went to work at Davies Yard as a carman, working more than 30 years on the railroad. Tom still has one of his grandfather's railroad watches. Tom's father, Chester, worked more than 40 years as a carman at Davies Yard. "Because of the railroad, there's always been food in our family's kitchen," he said. "The industry has been good to us." The Wezyks became a four-generation railroad family when Tom's daughter, Sue joined the company as a billing clerk at the Milwaukee Road Depot at age 18. She now works for the Transportation and Communications Union as a trainer. Though Wezyk officially retired Oct. 30, his final day on the job was October 13. Together, Tom and his wife have built a lake home in Springstead, Wisc., after tearing down their vacation cottage. In retirement, he plans to continue his love of fishing, golfing, and traveling. Thomas William Wezyk born in West Allis, WI to Victoria and Chester Wezyk on October 14, 1946 where he graduated high school from Nathan Hale. Tom retired from Canadian Pacific Railway in October 2006. Immediately upon retirement, Tom and his beautiful wife Marye headed "Up North" to their dream, lake house in Springstead, WI. Marye passed away in April 2009 after a battle with cancer. Thomas went for a visit 2 1/2 years ago to his daughter, Susan's and grandson, Thomas' home in the Kansas City area and decided not to leave. Thomas battled a neurological disorder called Multiple System Atrophy, fortunately he was able to maintain a clear mind and continue to share with us his witty sense of humor, however, he did lose some use of his motor skills. Throughout the past 2 1/2 years Tom always maintained a positive "can do attitude", his daughter saw this as an inspiration and model of strength for her son. Tom enjoyed playing WII games, watching movies, playing Ship, Captain and Crew, Cribbage and chatting with his neighborhood friends and Missouri friends. This past August Tom was able to visit his lake home in Springstead and enjoy his children and grandchildren and his sister Carol for his final trip back to Wisconsin. Personal qualities: There was never a person that met my Tom that didn't instantly like him. Tom was easy going, possessed 1000 different facial expressions and giggles, and most of all made people around him feel comfortable. Tom had a mischievous, playful heart and would do about anything to make you smile. Tom lived well and had strong moral fiber and ethics. Tom was patient enough to take all 5 of his young children fishing with is wife and a dog to boot. Tom loved to travel to Mexico and spend hours at the beach and pool, and eating seafood and most of all dancing with his wife Marye. There will be a Memorial Gathering at the Funeral Home Thursday, February 16, 4:00-6:45 PM with a Memorial Service at 7:00 PM.Tom will always be remembered, loved and dearly missed by all who knew him.
