Tom Mohs

Madison - Tom's boyhood was spent roaming the woods and lakeshore of Picnic Point and Willows Bay with his brother and the neighborhood kids. When he was 12, he found a damaged sailboat, which he restored. Thus began his passion for boats of all kinds. As a teenager, he cruised the waters of Lake Mendota in a runabout inboard he made, and he water skied with friends. His love for mechanics brought him to his first car: a 1940 Ford coup. Feeling nostalgic led to Tom's recent automobile purchases of several 1940 Fords - completing the circle.

Each morning, Tom took time to greet the day. Whether inspired by the beauty of the Madison lakes, or his love for boats, machines, and cars--from his early life on--he created beautiful things. Thoughtful, intentional, and self-directed in all he did, Tom grew to be a craftsman. Everything he worked on and made in his life, was sanded, polished, fine-tuned and tended to with care and the eye of an artist. That eye guided where he went and what he accomplished in life, including the company he founded.

Starting with a self-constructed machine in his basement, Mohs established Placon, Corp. When the company first began, he had preformed every aspect of the business, so he felt a connection with those who joined him as the company grew. He encouraged the creation of new products; products that filled a purpose, that fit and felt right. Tom wanted people to enjoy their work and he was profoundly proud of the accomplishments and contributions of Placon's employees. His desire was for Placon to leave this legacy with people, their families, and the community.

Placon will be celebrating 50 years this May. While we wish more than anything that Tom could be there, we know that he would prefer the focus be on his Placon family, rather than its founder, who sails off into the sunset. Tom died on April 29, 2016.

Tom was a graduate of West High School ('57) and UW Madison College of (Mechanical) Engineering ('62), a member of Chi Psi fraternity, a certified professional engineer, a member of TEC4 and a member of Madison Downtown Rotary. Mohs served on the Boards of American Family Insurance, First Wisconsin (Firstar) Bank, Meriter Hospital, and Wisconsin Historical Society Foundation.

Tom was known as being kind, generous, and humble, as well as a man of perspective, wisdom and integrity. He was a positive guy who loved his book club, Friday breakfasts with friends, skiing, time at his farm, dinner and a movie, and precious moments with his family, the greatest creation of a man who spent his life creating things of beauty and purpose.

Mohs was the son of the late Dr. Frederic E. and Mary Ellen Mohs. His cherished family includes his wife of 54 years, Nancy, and their children Virginia (1962-66), Linda Granato (Tony) of Madison, Dan Mohs (Ellyn) of Madison and Andrea Klauck (Jim) of Nashotah, as well as his grandchildren Michael, Dominic, Nicholas, and Gabriella Granato, Tommy and Camille Mohs, and Ryan, Adam, and Nathan Klauck. Tom is further survived by his brother, Fred Mohs (Mary), sister, Jane Schimming (Steve), sisters-in-law, Virginia Balentine and Dona Stein, and many nieces, nephews, and greats.

A gathering will be held at Blackhawk Country Club on Sunday May 15th from 3-6pm (remarks at 4:30 p.m.).

Gifts can be made to United Way Foundation of Dane County, MSO or Wisconsin Historical Society.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434