Robert 'Bob' Thomas

Robert Thomas, age 88, of Menomonie, Wisconsin, formerly of Spring Valley, died unexpectedly on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Menomonie.

Celebration of life will be on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 3-7 p.m. at the Spring Valley High School Gym.  Please wear your favorite sports attire.

Funeral service for Bob will be Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie with visitation for one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Downsville, Wisconsin.

Memorials are preferred, in lieu of flowers, for a scholarship fund to be established in Bob's name.

Bob was born September 9, 1937, to Roy and LaVerna ‘Sis’ (McCumber) Thomas at Clear Lake, Wisconsin. He grew up and attended Clear Lake Schools, where he graduated in 1954 at the age of 16.

Bob always excelled in sports. In high school he played basketball and baseball. He continued his education at UW-Superior where he was a member of the men's basketball and baseball teams. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1960. He later received his Master’s Degree from Winona State University in 1972.

Bob met Helen while at UW-Superior and they were married on August 23, 1959, at the Grace Episcopal Church in Menomonie. Bob and Helen spent the next 66 years together enjoying numerous sporting and school events, especially cherishing the times they could watch their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate.

He taught at Kickapoo Area Schools and in 1964 Bob took a teaching position at Spring Valley School District where he taught for 25 years. During that time Bob coached baseball, football, track and field. While coaching football, he compiled a record of 119-79-4 over 25 years. In 1978, he led the Cardinals to a Division 5 State Championship. The football program also received the state's #1 ranking for six seasons and also had a 49 game winning streak, along with nine conference championships. He also served as the winning head coach for the North team in the 1983 Shrine Game. In 1965, Bob helped build and introduce the sport of wrestling in Spring Valley, becoming head coach in 1976 and compiling a 129-87-2 record. He helped qualify 29 state tournament participants, with two state champions. 

In 1986, Bob accepted an assistant coaching position with UW-Stout football. In 1988, he joined the UW-Stout staff full time as Head Wrestling Coach, Assistant Football Coach, Instructor and Equipment Room Manager.  While at Stout, Bob led the wrestling team to 40 dual wins, the most by any coach in the program's history. Additionally, he coached seven conference champions, 17 NCAA Division III National Qualifiers and one National Champion. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Harvey Thomas; in-laws: Harold and Jessie Hardies; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dorothy and Robert Wickwire; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Janet Brimer.

He is survived by his wife Helen; children: Mark (Tracy) Thomas; Julie (Joe) Snell; Sarah (Clark) Bobert; and Jane (Gary) Borgerding; grandchildren: Lindsay Thomas, Leslie (Chelsie) Larson, Mitch (Anika Hanson) Thomas; Kara (Kelsey) Monahan; Zak (Becca Dille) Snell; Bailee Bobert; Cody (Hope Yeo) Bobert; Sean (Katy) Borgerding; Aaron (Kate Karch) Borgerding; great grandchildren: Kennedy and Keaton Monahan; Ty Thomas; Kaeson, Nash and Sierra Thomas; Myah and Braxton Evans; brother Larry (Glenise) Thomas; sister-in-law Audrey (Rod) Flatland; many nieces, nephews, other family and friends along with many former players and colleagues.

In honor of Coach Thomas, the lights at the Spring Valley football field will be turned on Friday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. We invite others to join us at the field if you wish to do so. Various other high schools in the area may also be participating, along with UW-Stout and UW River Falls.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert 'Bob' Thomas, please visit our floral store.