Thomas J. Mathison Jr., 46, of Sparta died Thursday, March 27, 2008 at his home.  He was born on May 16, 1961 in Sparta to Thomas J. and Sharon (Anderson) Mathison.  He grew up in Sparta and attended Sparta Schools graduating in 1980.

     He worked as a cook at the Country Kitchen while in high school. Tom then started working as a cook at the Fox Hole Pub in 1983.  He loved antiques, auctions, and tractor shows.  He also had a love for the outdoors, Green Bay Packers, and Nascar.  He loved collecting toy tractors, comics, reading books, fiction and non-fiction.

     Tom enjoyed laughter, friends, and family, and his Fox Hole family.

     He is survived by his mother, Sharon Baumer of Sparta; a brother, Todd Alan Mathison of Sparta; 5 sisters, Tina (Tom) Connelly of Bangor, Paula (Mark Kaufmann) Mathison of Onalaska, Therese (Dennis) Schnitzler of Sparta, Shana (Tim Dopson) Manka of Sparta, and Nicole Mathison of Ramsey, IL; nieces and nephews; maternal grandmother, Elsie Anderson of Bangor.

     He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Gus and Margaret Mathison; his father, Thomas Mathison Sr.; aunt, Mary Kulpinski; maternal grandfather, Elmer Anderson.

     Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta with Reverend Richard Abernathy officiating.  Burial will be in the Burns Cemetery, rural Bangor.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home on Monday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of services. 

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.