Thomas Michael Kniess

Thomas M. Kniess of Kronenwetter passed away on February 17, 2025, under the care of Interim Hospice at Mountain Terrace Senior Living. Tom died from Parkinson’s disease due to chemical exposure during his enlistment in the United States Navy.

Tom was born on April 9, 1949, in Laona, WI, son of Ray and Helen (Hupf) Kniess. He married Jeannette (Campbell) on January 27, 1968; and married Jewell (Ball) on March 15, 1980; both women survive. A graduate of Laona High School class of 1967, Tom enlisted in the US Navy the same year and traversed the globe multiple times. A venerable shipmate, Tom served with distinction aboard the USS Merrill DD976. While stationed in Panama, Tom endured chemical exposure; from the pesticide sprays to the barrels of agent orange stored on base – those sailors were exposed in multiple ways. The crew of the USS Merrill earned humanitarian awards for rescuing 62 Vietnam refugees from their sinking vessels. Throughout his military career Tom was awarded several honors including the National Defense Service Medal, four Good Conduct Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation. Tom served over 20 years in the US Navy and retired with the rank of CTTC - Cryptologic Technician Technical Chief. 

After his retirement from the Navy, Tom moved the family to Wausau, WI to work at the Hammerblow Corporation. He then worked at the Fiskars and Kohler corporations. Tom spun his cryptology knowledge into becoming an EDI (electronic data interchange) Specialist and Coordinator, where he developed data tracking systems to track products as they moved from manufacturing line to shipping to stores to sales and back to purchasing for many business customers around the world. After his final retirement, Tom developed what his family lovingly calls “The Tommy Decimal System”. It was his EDI version of tracking his DVD collections and books when borrowed by well-meaning children and grandchildren. 

Tom also spent countless hours undertaking genealogy research on all branches of the family tree. He traced back to 22 times great grandparents on his father’s side. After a focused 11-months of effort, Tom was equally proud to publish his memoir, “Reflections of My life” in 2023. The family enjoys reading his stories and ‘hearing’ his voice and humor reflected on the pages within. In recognition of their military service, Tom flew on his Never Forgotten Honor Flight in October 2017, along with cousin and fellow veteran, Jimmy Sheldon.

Tom enjoyed fishing and hunting and was the very best at dad jokes. He wrote lengthy Christmas poems recapping the entirety of his family’s happenings for the calendar year. When it came to opening presents, he would design gift tags that had to be deciphered. You either figured out the gift (and knew who it was for), or you figured out the recipient. Nothing like thinking hard at Christmas time! Tom would spend a whole year planning and creating extra special games for Christmas get-togethers - even if they did result in yells and a little extra holiday chaos – Tom would be smiling and watching as everyone played his games of the year.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years and 11 months, Jewell, Kronenwetter; daughter, Heather (Jason Witt) Martell, Weston; sons, Justin (Heather Ramon) Brooks, Kronenwetter; and Bart (Brittany Vaile) Kniess, Wausau; grandchildren, Arianna Kibler and Walker Martell, Green Bay; Aurora Martell, Wausau; Easton Brooks and Harper Brooks, Kronenwetter; Lucca Antonio Correa Kniess and Matteo Thomas Correa Kniess, Wausau; and great grandchild, Zora Williamson, Weston. 

Tom is further survived by sister, Susie (James) Albrecht, Racine; first wife, Jeannette (Campbell) Kniess, Crandon; sister-in-law, Charlene Hobbs, Brownstown, MI; brothers-in-law, Elmo (Idella) Ball, Springfield, OH; and Ken (Eva) Ball, St. Paul, VA; nephew Jim Albrecht; niece Nicole (Tom) Johnson; and several great nephews and their families; aunt Carole Sheldon; Uncle Jerry Hupf; and Best Fishing Buddy/cousin, Jimmy Sheldon.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Helen Kniess; in-laws, Claude and Myrtle Ball; grandson, Spencer Alexander Martell; brothers-in-law, Bill Hobbs and Duard Ball; sisters-in-law, Christine Coe and Evalene Ball; maternal aunts Sharon (Hupf) Bauer and Doreen (Hupf) Sheldon and uncle Jim Sheldon; 11 paternal aunts and uncles; and several cousins.

Tom’s family would like to offer their sincerest thank you to: Dr. Jessa Swartz and Dr. Sandeep Aggarwal of Aspirus for their care of Tom during the throes of his Parkinson’s disease; and Jackie, Kelli, Cora, Teila, Jasmine, Anna, Kiana, Felicia, and the rest of the team at Mountain Terrace Senior Living, along with Stephanie, Brittany, Carrie, Tim, Mike, and the rest of the Interim Hospice Team for the care at the end of Tom’s life.

Funeral service for Tom will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Ascend Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 2809 Jelinek Avenue, Weston, WI. Pastor Lance Hoelscher will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service at Ascend. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Kronenwetter, where military honors will be accorded by the United States Navy and American Legion Montgomery-Plant-Dudley Post 10 Honor Guard of Wausau. A luncheon to follow thereafter. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s memory to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Ascend Funeral Home & Cremation Care is assisting the Kniess family. You may sign the family guestbook at www.ascendweston.org.