Thomas James Maciolek

Thomas “Tom” Maciolek, age 75, of Rome, Wisconsin, died on April 14, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with family by his side.

Tom was born and lived most of his life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before happily retiring to his place in the woods, where he found the quiet and freedom he’d always wanted.

He loved that feeling of freedom whether on the open road on his motorcycle or dreaming of flying airplanes of all kinds. Tom could be stubborn in the way people who know what they like often are, but he was always there to help anyone who needed it and he loved to laugh. Those who knew him will remember his spirit, his willingness to show up, his stories, and the way his laugh could fill a room.

Tom is survived by his daughter Nicole (Stephen Mandel); son Mathew; brother Daniel (Kathleen); and several “grand-pets”. He was preceded in death by his wife Betsy (Anderson); and his parents Matt and Esther (Rewolinski); along with his brother Timothy.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brown Deer Boathouse, 7835 N Green Bay Rd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Family and friends are warmly invited to gather, share memories, and honor his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) https://www.eaa.org/foundation/giving-opportunities or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the ICU staff at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital for their compassionate care during Tom’s final days.