Lydon, Thomas E.

Thomas E. Lydon, 74, of Waukon, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Father Joseph Schneider and the Rev. Monsignor Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 4 p.m. Scripture service.

 Instead of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up.

Thomas Edward Lydon was born June 28, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Ben and Helen (Bates) Lydon. In 1957, he graduated from Notre Dame High School in Cresco, Iowa, where he lived with his grandparents, Martin and Julia Lydon, to whom Tom has always credited his "old-fashioned values." As a young man, Tom spent his summers with his aunt and uncle and assisted them in running the Cerro Gordo Hotel in Mason City, and maintaining their cabin at Molten Lake in Minnesota. On May 31, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Slifka, at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco.

Tom took pride in himself for maintaining the fastest and best-looking cars. When Tom wasn't drag racing you could find him practicing pool at Tucheks. After graduation, Tom worked at Lehigh Cement in Mason City as an apprentice electrician. In 1959, Tom and Jean moved to Waukon, where they raised their family and settled for the rest of his life. Tom opened Lydon Electric Service in 1959; his first motor shop was a small space he rented from Keith and Jean Ann Mason. Tom also owned and operated a local youth center called the Wigwam. In 1996, he built Jean's "dream home" above his "dream shop."   In 2009, Tom semiretired and sold Lydon Electric Service to his son and daughter-in-law.

Throughout his life, Tom's love of softball and pool brought him great joy, and lifelong friendships. Tom was inducted into the Wisconsin Softball Hall of Fame in 2010 where he joined the ranks of many he had not only pitched for or against, but greatly respected. Later in life, while continuing to pitch softball himself, Tom found great pleasure in teaching young women the fundamentals of pitching, as well as instilling the values of respect and good sportsmanship. He enjoyed competition, from playing badminton in the front yard with his children to later playing cards with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Jean of Waukon; his children, John (Shelly) Lydon of Waukon, Jean Ann (Mike) Oden of Lawrence, Kan., Mary (Don) Meyer of Waukon, Judy (Todd) Thies of Robins, Barb Byrnes of Waukon, Nancy (Jon) Snitker of Waukon and Lisa Lydon of Phoenix, Ariz.; 28 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Cheri (Wally) Biegacki of Elyria, Ohio; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Slifka of Waukon; cousins, Janie (Bob) Jackson and Peggy Frattini; a sister-in-law, Judy (Vic) Wolfe; a brother-in-law, Jeff (DeeDee) Slifka; nieces and nephews; neighbors and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bob Lydon; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Faith Thies and Chantel Marie Snitker; his father-in-law, Clarence Slifka; and a brother-in-law, Don Sevart.

Online condolences may be left at .

Published Oct. 15, 2012 in The Gazette