Thomas J. Evans, age 79, of Madison passed away at home on March 1, 2026. He was born on September 18, 1946 in Tipp City, Ohio, the son of Mary and Jess Evans.

He married the love of his life, Rebecca Warner, on August 2, 1969 in Washington, D.C. Tom graduated from Tipp City High School in 1964 and then went on to attend Wittenberg University, where he majored in geology, graduating in June of 1968. He then went on to get his Masters at the University of Arizona in 1971, completing his thesis work on the Toroweap Formation in the Grand Canyon and the Oak Creek Canyon area of Arizona. He went on to receive his PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, School of Environmental Sciences, in June of 1994. He taught geology at Ohio Wesleyan University for two years and then worked five years at the Bureau of Economic Geology in Austin, Texas. He and his family then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he spent 35 years working at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. While there he focused on developing public policy around mining in northern Wisconsin. Tom had an incredible ability to work with and develop relationships with all sorts of people. He was a trusted and respected resource and friend to state legislators, mining companies, and citizens affected by mining in positive and negative ways. He ended his career as the Assistant Director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. He was also an active member of Midvale Community Lutheran Church for 47 years. He served his church community in many roles, including two terms as the church council president, multiple terms teaching Sunday School, serving on many different committees, and singing in the church choir for over 20 years. Most important to him was his family- his wife Becky, his three children and their spouses, and his nine grandsons who were the light of his life. Tom played an important role in teaching his grandsons how to be kind, loving people. He loved being at his family cabin in northern Minnesota, spending time with the people he loved most of all in a place he treasured. Before his long battle with multiple sclerosis meant he could no longer travel, he and his wife Becky visited 44 national parks, all 50 states and ten different countries. He loved to read, especially Louise Penny mysteries, John Grisham novels, the Harry Potter series, and many other children’s books that he shared with his grandsons. Tom also loved watching the Wisconsin Badger basketball and football teams, the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and listening to Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan.

He is survived by Becky, his wife of 56 years, his three children and their spouses, Jen (Andrew), Nate, and Meaghan (Matt), and his nine grandsons, Levi, Iain, Nolan, Noah, Kofi, Arlo, Finn, Ezra, and Asa. He is also survived by his brother, Mike (Barbara) Evans, his brother-in-law Bill (Gayle) Warner, his brother-in-law David (Val) Warner and sister-in-law Mary Brooks, along with several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Jess Evans, and his parents-in-law, Bud and Jack Warner. A memorial service will be held at Midvale Community Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday, March 9, with the visitation at 10 a.m., the service at 11 a.m. and a luncheon to follow.

Memorials may be made to Midvale Community Lutheran Church, The Nature Conservancy, or Multiple Sclerosis Society .

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd Madison

608-238-3434