Thomas J. Wrixton, Jr.

Service Details

A celebration of Tom’s life to honor the wonderful memories he leaves behind will take place on August 16^th, 2025, at Roma Lodge on Spring Street in Racine. 

The gathering will be held from 3:00pm to 7:00pm.

All are welcome, but please message Bonnie by August 11^th if you are planning on attending so that food and drinks may be ordered accordingly.

Thomas J. Wrixton, Jr., 81, passed away peacefully at home in Racine on Friday, January 31, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished uncle, cousin, and dear friend. Tom will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and deep passion for collecting, restoring, and sharing the things that brought him joy.

Born in Racine on July 28, 1943, to Thomas and Rose (née Csipkes) Wrixton, Sr., Tom had an early fascination with all things mechanical. He graduated from Washington Park High School in 1962 and went on to work alongside his father at Davies Automatic Sales, eventually taking over the business and running it with dedication until his retirement at age 55. His love of collecting started with restoring vintage vending machines, but his interests quickly expanded—first to classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and even a 15-passenger train that he ran around his backyard.  But beyond machines, Tom had another passion: animation. He built an impressive collection of animated artwork, featuring beloved characters from Disney, Hanna-Barbera, and Looney Tunes, a reflection of his appreciation for timeless storytelling and artistry.

Tom’s sense of adventure was not limited to his collections. He had an insatiable curiosity for the world and spent years traveling on cruise ships with Bonnie, experiencing the beauty of different countries, cultures, and cuisines. Whether sailing the Caribbean, exploring Costa Rica, Australia, Hong Kong, Alaska & Hawaii, Tom loved the excitement of discovering new places and meeting new people. But no matter how far he traveled, he always returned home to Racine, where he found happiness in sharing his passions with family and friends. Whether chauffeuring kids to prom in one of his vintage cars or playing conductor on his backyard train, he found immense joy in creating lasting memories for others.

At the heart of Tom’s life was his beloved wife, Bonnie. Meeting her at the Harbor Lite Yacht Club in 1978 was the beginning of a love story that spanned decades. He embraced his role as a father to Bonnie’s son, Rob, with unconditional love and support, forming a bond that lasted a lifetime. His signature Hawaiian shirts, warm smile, and gentle spirit made him unforgettable to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Tom is survived by his wife, Bonnie Wrixton (Freeman); his son, Rob C. Paeth of Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica; sister-in-law, Barbara (William Sr.) Pucci; brother-in-law, Steve (Harriett) Freeman; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, plus special friends Pam and Mike Jepson, Adam Casebolt and Dennis and Bev Koch. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rose Wrixton, Sr.; in-laws, Jean and William Freeman; and sister-in-law, Shirley Robinson.

A celebration of Tom’s life to honor the wonderful memories he leaves behind will take place on August 16^th, 2025, at Roma Lodge on Spring Street in Racine.  The gathering will be held from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. All are welcome, but please message Bonnie by August 11^th if you are planning on attending so that food and drinks may be ordered accordingly.

Tom may have left this world, but his warmth, love and legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Liz, Vesna, Sherri, Abi, Paul & Ruth from Ascension Compassus Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of Tom.