Thomas F. Rooyakkers, Town of Harrison, age 74, died Saturday, May 20, 2017 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton. He was born on October 23, 1942 in Appleton to the late Henry and Joanne (Gmiener) Rooyakkers. Tom married Florence Van Handel, and they enjoyed 53 years together.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and be up north. He took many fishing trips to Lake Superior and Canada. Tom had land on Lac Vieux Desert for 40 years and was fortunate to have lived there for 20. In his younger years, he was a skilled athlete, running track and playing football and basketball. He played basketball at the collegiate level while attending Marquette University.   He kept his love of sports throughout his life and enjoyed watching basketball, football and baseball. Tom was an usher at Holy Spirit Parish in Kimberly, where he was a member. He retired from Northwestern Mutual Life after 30 years of service.

Tom's greatest love was his grandchildren. He cherished spending time with them and was very proud of their accomplishments. They each spent many hours fishing with their grandpa.

Tom is survived by his wife, Florence; children: Kim (Dan) Van Sambeek, Kimberly; Thomas (Nicole), Kentucky; Tim (Paula), Georgia; Bill (Adriana), Kimberly; and Matt (Courtney), Eagle River; grandchildren: Tiffany (fiance Coltin Dahlke), Clint (fiancée Olivia Sturz) and Shelby Van Sambeek, Ben, Jack, Margaret, Vincent, Allison, Vanessa, JT and Joe Rooyakkers; siblings: Barb (Ken) Freeman, Karen (Mike) Winius and Jim (Pat) Rooyakkers; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Dolores Zuleger-Boyer, Bernice Bougie, Roger (Marie) Van Handel, David (Judy) Van Handel, Marian (Marvin) Lamers and Rita (Gene) Wieczorek. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his brothers-in-law: Gene Van Handel, Ray Zuleger, Vernon Boyer and Rick Hietpas.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 25, 2017 at HOLY SPIRIT PARISH – KIMBERLY CHURCH (600 E. Kimberly Ave.) beginning at 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Robert Kollath will officiate with the Rev. Donald Zuleger concelebrating. Committal Highland Memorial Park. A memorial is being established to support cancer research at the Mayo Clinic.