Thomas F. Sanders, 79, was the ‘living image’ of dedication, devotion to family

Obituary for Thomas F. Sanders

March 4, 1945 — April 18, 2024

Thomas F. Sanders, a 26-year resident of Henderson, Nev., with deep roots in Racine, passed away in Las Vegas after a long illness on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the age of 79.

Thomas was born in Racine on March 4, 1945, to Alvin and Genevieve Sanders. He attended Saint Mary’s Catholic school as a youth and served Mass at both Saint Patrick’s and Saint Mary’s parish as well as being active in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Saint Catherine’s High School in 1963 and later attended UW-Parkside.

Thomas married his wife and best friend, Georgann Spitzer, on July 31, 1971. He worked for several years as the manager of Racine Country Club until 1984, after which he went on to manage other country clubs in various places in the Midwest and on the East Coast before retiring to Henderson, Nev., during the late 1990s.

His life was the living image of devotion and dedication to his family whose welfare absolutely and unquestionably came first in each and every circumstance.

His other great devotion in equal measure was to the Catholic Church, to the point where early in his life he had strongly considered becoming a religious order priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and studied for three years at Sacred Heart Minor Seminary in Geneva, Ill.

He is already very sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

He is survived by his daughter Kristine Sanders; son, Eric Sanders; sister, Mary Boyle (née Sanders); brother, John Sanders; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Erin Marie Sanders; wife, Georgann Marie Sanders (née Spitzer); father, Alvin Sanders; mother, Genevieve Sanders (née Duccini); brothers, Alvin Sanders and Richard Sanders; sister, Alice Quirk (née Sanders); as well as his parents-in-law, George Spitzer and Ruth Spitzer (née Weber).

Services

Thomas’ funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on May 3 at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., with Fr. Thomas Vathappallil officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet prior to the Mass from 10 to 11 a.m.

Obituary and photo of Thomas F. Sanders courtesy of Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home.