Thomas Walter Loyas, age 83, of Sarona, WI and Leesburg, FL, died Saturday, May 2, 2026 at his sanctuary, in the land he effectually referred to as God’s country. Born in Minneapolis on November 2, 1942 to Walter and Viola (Wille) Loyas. He is survived by his wife, Diane Loyas: a stepdaughter, Julie Decker (Joe), 3 step grandchildren: Sam, Micah, and Hannah (Joe) Kerkhof; a brother, Doug (Sharon) Loyas, 2 sisters, Mariann Ager and Karen (Tom) Swierczek, and many nieces and nephews.

Eagerly anticipating a heavenly reunification are parents, Walter and Viola Loyas, brother, Ron, and baby brother, Danny. Everybody knows someone, that has the knack for throwing a great party or organizing a get together; and for everybody that knew him, that guy was Tom. If you called him anything, you called him generous. This was true both in spirit, as well as, with material goods.

Excepting with Tommy, there was never a sense of reciprocal obligation; he had the remarkable gift of giving you something, and leaving you feeling like you were doing him a favor. Some are recognized for giving you the shirt off their back. Not Tom, he leaves behind multiple tales of giving others the car he was driving - a car that was always nice. Simply put, he was a class act, and a cut above the rest.

Tommy was always listening. He made you feel like he had all the time in the world for you. There were no distractions, nor pings on a phone, you were always the most important person in the room. A rare guy that could command attention, without ever demanding it. In conversation, he could disagree while simultaneously making you feel accepted. He brought with him an energy that should be bottled up and sold with an Ivy league MBA. A true practitioner of curiosity, he never stopped learning.

Tom grew more interesting every year of life. It was always a privilege to commune with him, even in somber circumstances. He traveled wide and often, experienced the world, and enjoyed its fruits. Yet he clearly understood that the luxuries he earned were only luxurious because of the people he enjoyed them with.

One final testament to Tom’s legacy that must be noted is his rapport with dogs. And it wasn’t his love of dogs that is noteworthy, but their natural reverence for him. Humans can manipulate, sell, and misinform. However, something that cannot be declared, nor exaggerated is what Canine Americans know intuitively – we lost a great one.

Mourning Tom remains antithetical to how he lived. Thus, it is good and appropriate, if you’re of the means, to attend his final get together – the last party. Assisted of course by Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Starting with 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rice Lake, WI with interment in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.

Visitation will be held starting at 10 AM. Tom will surely be listening. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Little Red Barn Dog Rescue in Rice Lake, WI, would be appreciated.

Last Update: May 12, 2026 7:59 am CDT