Thomas T. Rogers

Tom Rogers would tell you that some of the best times of his life were spent at his family cabin on the Brule River. It was there, wearing their Davey Crockett hats and paddling up and down the river, that Tom and his two brothers spent their summers, perfecting their fly fishing and daring any stranger to cast a line into their river. It was also there that Tom formed many life-long friendships.

Thomas T. Rogers, age 79, of Princeton, passed away at home on Saturday, April 1, 2023. He was looking out at the sun setting on the river, with his wife and his dogs by his side.

Tom was born on June 11, 1943, to Gilbert Rogers and Virginia (Keeler) Townley. He graduated from Choate College Preparatory School in Connecticut and furthered his education at Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Putting his law degree to good use, Tom was proud to have worked for the Environmental Protection Agency at its start. He also served as the District Attorney for Marquette County and ran his own private practices both in Princeton and in Aspen, Colorado.

In the August heat of 2016, Tom married Nancy Hiestand at his home in Spicewood, Texas. Together, they spent their falls at his beautiful property in Whitehall, Montana, where he shared his love of hunting and fishing with his son Matson and his grandchildren. Tom and Nancy wintered in Spicewood, where the weather was warmer, which made Nancy happy. Tom had the Wall Street Journal delivered daily, wherever they were.

In later years, Tom’s love of fly fishing would take him to many countries, but Brule would always be special. Tom was a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. He served on the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale College and Madeline Island Music Camp and had memberships in Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society and Delta Waterfowl. Tom enjoyed bird hunting, deer hunting and fly fishing. He was an avid reader, writer and artist. He collected early American nature and wildlife art and was particularly interested in WWII history and politics.

As Tom’s health declined in recent years, his daughter Katie was a constant source of advice and comfort. Through the end, he was never far from nature and family – the things he loved the most.

Those Tom leaves behind to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Nancy Hiestand Rogers; 2 children, Matson (Kathy) Rogers of Bozeman, MT, Kate (Charles) Arnold of Mettawa, IL; 5 grandchildren, Sam, Sydney and Sawyer Rogers; Elizabeth and Josie Arnold; 4 stepchildren, Amy (Aaron) Wetzel, Martha (David) Malkowski, Matt (Greg) Trotter; Mike (Christina) Trotter; 9 step grandchildren, Peyton and Chance Wetzel; Ellianna, Preston, Gavin, Gabriel and Caden Malkowski; Camden and Emma Trotter; his brother, Bill (Lynn) Rogers of Venice, FL; his sister, Susan Panagakas of Piedmont, SC; the mother of his children, Sue Ann Fleet; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Rogers; his second wife, Patricia.

A funeral service for Thomas T. Rogers will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., at the Wachholz and Sons Funeral home, 303 Harvard St., in Princeton. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. Father Dale Grubba will officiate. Tom will be laid to rest in the Highland Memorial Cemetery in Lake Nebagamon, WI, near the Brule River at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established at the following organizations: Brule River Sportsmen’s Club, P.O. Box 100 Brule, WI 54820; the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 22324 New York, NY 10087; and the Green Lake Area Animal Shelter, N6217 Busse Road Green Lake, WI 54941. Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Tom with his family.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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