Thomas "Tommy" Davis

Thomas (Tommy) Davis, 74, of Wausau, passed away April 18 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by friends. He was diagnosed with cancer in February 2022 and was unable to overcome it.

Tommy made a memorable and lasting impact and loved to share stories, jokes and insight with his friends. Nobody enjoyed a good laugh more than Tommy and his quick wit, keen sense of humor and infectious laugh will be fondly remembered. His passions included skiing, scuba diving, hunting, cars and motorcycles, history, reading, a great debate, cooking, dogs and the company of friends and family.

Tommy was born on November 13, 1947, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to Robert and Margaret Davis. He graduated Wausau High School in 1966 and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in 1971. Upon graduation he held a sales position at Vincent Brass and Aluminum in Minneapolis and briefly owned a meat distribution company in Minneapolis. Tommy returned to Wausau to pursue a career in underwriting at Church Mutual Insurance Company in Merrill. He retired as Director of Underwriting at Church Mutual Insurance Company.

His death was preceded by his fiancé Carol Krohn (1972), his grandmother Gertrude Frey (1973), his brother Steve (1982) his father Robert (1982), his mother Margaret (2001), his aunt Barbara Frey (2001), his brother Richard (2008), his uncle Thomas Frey (2012) and his beloved Tibetan Terrier Woofie in 2019. He is survived by his cousins Jonathan Frey and Susan (Frey) Walker, nephews David Frey, Chase Kernan and Aidan Kernan.

Tommy’s life was forever changed in 1972 when a drunk driver crossed over a divided highway and struck the car in which Tommy and his fiancé Carol were riding. Carol died several days later in a hospital without regaining consciousness. Tommy lived the remainder of his life as a tribute to Carol and established foundations at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and Stevens Point to award scholarships for students from Carol’s hometown of Elroy. Tommy passed away 50 years to the day that his fiancé Carol died.

As per Tommy’s directive, no funeral service was held. The private burial was in Forest Hills Cemetery in Eau Claire chosen as equidistant between where Carol and his mother Margaret were buried. A celebration of life with close friends and relatives is being planned.