Thomas Joseph Thorson, age 78, Schofield, passed from this life on Friday, December 9, 2011 surrounded by his loving family at Ministry St. Clare's Hospital, Weston, under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice. Tom was born on Wednesday, October 18, 1933 the son of the late Joseph and Mable (Buck) Thorson of Wittenberg. He met his life-long love, Viola Mae Swanson in August of 1951 at the Wausau fair. She was looking back at him to see if he was looking back and her and he was looking back at her to see if she was looking back at him. Tom proposed to his bride in the Wittenberg cemetery where he said "it starts here and it will end here". They married on October 4, 1952. In his spare time, Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching the Packers play. He also loved spending time with family and friends. Tom started driving a cattle truck at the age of 12 years old. He also cut meat at the county hospital and retired from Greenheck fans after 25 years of service. He and his wife also owned a janitorial cleaning service for many years. He also sold night crawlers out of his garage in his later years. Survivors include his wife, Viola Thorson, Schofield; two daughters, Kathy (Leon) Howlett, Rib Mountain and Susan Thorson, Wausau; two sons, Dean (Lori) Thorson, Aniwa and Joey (Dawn) Thorson, Wausau; seven grandchildren, Melissa (Randy) Koppenhaver, William (Jenn) Howlett, Emily (Jason) Arendsee, Dana (Kevin) Fliss, Noel Howlett, Thomas Thorson and Roy Thorson; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jim (Barbara) Thorson, Rothschild, Ronald Thorson and Dennis Thorson, both of Wittenberg; and three sisters, Agnes (Gordon) Schlender, Wittenberg, Pat (Dan) Schulz, Mosinee and Joann (Gene) Preuss, Wittenberg. He is also survived by other loving family and friends. In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by twin infant sons, Randy and Rodney Thorson and his brother, Bobby Thorson. The family would like to give special thanks for the care given to Tom by the staff at St. Clare's and Ministry Home Care Hospice, including, Jamie, Dana, Krista and many more. Their loving care given is greatly appreciated. Visitation: Visitation will be on Wednesday from 9am until the time of services at the funeral home. Service: The Funeral Service will be at 11am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood. Rev. Timothy Coppersmith will officiate. Cemetery: Interment will be in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Easton.