Obit: Keefe, Thomas F. (1923 - 2008)

Poster: Robert Lipprandt

Email: rloss@bellsouth.net

Surnames: Boheim, Keefe, Lange, Strebig

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin), Thursday, February 28, 2008, Online Edition

----Keefe, Thomas F. (October 27, 1923 – February 20, 2008)

Thomas F. Keefe, age 82, of Medford, died Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Memorial Health Center in Medford, surrounded by his family and under the care of Hope Hospice.

He was born in Beloit on October 27, 1923 to Thomas F. and Rose Ellen (Boheim) Keefe. His parents both died before he had reached school age, and he came to Medford to live with his grandfather, Fred Boheim. Tom attended Holy Rosary Grade School and he graduated from Medford High School in 1943.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in World War II aboard the USS Wyoming. He married Melva Jean Strebig on June 12, 1947 in Wausau.

He worked for Thorp Finance, Martin Motors and Montgomery Ward, before being recalled to active duty aboard the USS Monson during the Korean conflict. He returned to Medford in 1953 and joined Strebig Auto Co. and its TV Sales and Repair division. In 1956, he and Raymond Lange co-founded Northland Furniture Company.

In 1970, Tom, by then sole owner of Keefe's Family Furniture, moved the business to Medford's "Miracle Mile." He retired in 1988, and he and Melva enjoyed life together spending their winters as "snowbirds" in Sebring, Fla., and their summers in Medford, and travels in the U.S. and abroad in between.