Thomas A. Frank

“There’s a world to conquer out there.”

That phrase was Tom Frank’s daily reminder to his sons and a philosophy he quietly lived by every day. After charting a remarkable course through 75 years of life, Tom set sail on his final voyage on June 29, 2026.

Tom was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 9, 1950 to Art and Gretchen Frank. In 2026, Tom celebrated 49 years of marriage with the love of his life, Cindy, who Tom treasured beyond words and stood by his side through every stage of his life. Together they raised three sons, Tom (Jenny), Tim (Heidi) and David (Rosina) and welcomed eight deeply loved grandchildren, Madisyn, Colin, Kaylee, William, Maxwell, Susan, Vivan and Gus. Tom is also survived by two siblings, Rick (Sharon) and Barb (Phil), his in-laws Wally & Shirley Sels and many beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Tom, lovingly known as “TF,” was happiest on the water and spent most of his summers behind the tiller of a sailboat. He grew up learning to sail on Pewaukee Lake with his family (who raced under V1) in many different fleets. He then took his skills to Okauchee Lake where he raced in the C-scow fleet with Cindy under E8 and later skipped an A-scow on Pewaukee (V6) with all three sons. In his later years, TF returned to racing in the Pewaukee Lake C-fleet. TF was a truly prolific sailor and countless trophies sprinkled across the midwest are engraved with his name but his presence off the race course was just as significant - he was a gregarious competitor who loved the camaraderie of the sport almost as much as the races themselves. To the C-Scow sailing community, TF’s laughter and light air sailing abilities are his most legendary characteristics. He was well-known for chasing puffs downwind that never existed to anyone else and when that worked out, he would win by a mile … and tell the rest of the fleet he just got lucky.

In every aspect of his life, one common theme carried throughout was Tom’s legacy of hard work and unwavering self-reliance. Whether it was in his career in HR and sales at Falk, Briggs and Arrowcast or the countless projects he took on in his own home and yard, Tom maintained a tireless work ethic that has passed on to his sons, who have each built their own success stories from this same attribute. This is a generational trait that Tom was raised with and both he and Cindy embraced as a core value in their family. It’s such a simple but impactful frame of mind: Tom truly felt that the most important way to give back to your family, community and world around you was to put forth your best effort every single day.

Tom had a fondness for animals, in particular dogs, always having at least one pet dog as a companion throughout his life. He also rescued wild animals, raised baby ducks with his sons and collected a menagerie of pets including a fox and alligators. Many of his animal encounters remain local lore including his experience with escaped kangaroos. Tom’s soft heart and calm demeanor naturally drew animals to him, no matter the species, it would seem.

Until his final days, Tom retained an appreciation of food from all ends of the spectrum, from high-end cuts of prime rib, right down to “filling station hot dogs.” He loved a Pike’s Peak malt from the local Kiltie drive-in, a Dairy Queen banana split and every ice cream cone in between and cherished any opportunity to enjoy these treats with his loved ones, particularly his grandchildren.

Tom and Cindy spent many of their later years at their second home in Rhinelander, where Tom finally found the time to indulge in the hobbies he loved; hitting the open trails (and local bars) on his fleet of snowmobiles, playing endless hands of cards (particularly sheepshead), icefishing in Lake Thompson, cranking out 1960’s tunes for his grandchildren on his collection of vinyls and of course tackling an endless series of ambitious home remodeling projects that he and Cindy were working on until his final days.

TF possessed a wit and infectious laugh that made everyone hope they were seated next to him at a gathering. He possessed a dedication and work ethic that made any employer, customer, and colleague thrilled to have him on their team. He possessed a kindness and moral compass that made his neighbors, friends and family grateful for his presence. And important until his final days, Tom possessed a positive, endearing spirit that never faltered. When he shined his light on you, the world felt a little brighter and every one of us could all use that levity, especially now. Anyone close to Tom could tell you - he could find laughter and light in the darkest of situations.

Life will never be the same for the friends and family who held Tom near. And while we can’t fill the void that is left behind in our hearts, we will work to support each other and press on as Tom would wish - because one of his most endearing traits was his unwavering perseverance in the face of every adversity.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Tom’s name to Little Warrior Foundation. Details can be found here.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Pagenkopf Funeral Home at 2228 N. Silver Maple Lane, Oconomowoc, WI from 9am to 11am with a service immediately after. Family and friends are welcome to join. A gathering to honor Tom will follow. Upon the completion of the Pewaukee Yacht Club, likely in the spring or summer of 2027, the family will host a celebration of Tom’s life.