Thaddeus C. Migawa, 92, of Eau Claire passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2002, at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born January 28, 1910, in Fairchild, Wisconsin, the son of Charles and Florentina "Flora" Matchey. He married Oreen Wold on June 15, 1940, at St. Patrick's Church in Eau Claire.\r\nThad was a resident of Eau Claire since 1933. He worked at Gillette-Uniroyal Tire Plant in Eau Claire for 40 years, retiring in 1973. In his years at Uniroyal he missed one day. He worked in many departments at Uniroyal and specialized in 12-ft. GOTR (giant off the road) tires. In 1989 he went to China to teach the Chinese how to build off-the-road tires. During World War II he worked at Wisconsin Motors in Milwaukee building airplane engines. After the war he returned to Eau Claire and continued to work at Uniroyal. \r\nThad was an avid hunter, trapper and trout fisherman. He was known all over the state of Wisconsin for his trapping skills. He trapped fox, mink and beaver for 76 years. His average annual fox take was 75 to 100 pelts. He was a life member of the National Trappers Association. He hunted deer for 75 years and never missed opening day. It is fitting that his funeral will be on the opening day of deer hunting season. \r\nHis hobby of a skilled wood carver included the wood carvings of the fish and wild animals he encountered in his wonderful outdoors. His first language was Polish, and he was very proud of that. Fellow workers and friends appreciated his keen sense of humor.\r\nThad is survived by his children, Josette (Dennis Vanden Bloomen) Migawa, Janelle Sanders both of Eau Claire and Mark of Menomonie; six grandchildren, Gretchen Vanden Bloomen of Eau Claire and Heidi Sanders both of Eau Claire, Harold "JR" Sanders of Minneapolis, Chelsea, Emerald and Cole Migawa of Menomonie; one great-grandson, Ethan Sanders; a brother, Benedict (Frances) Migawa of Milwaukee; and a special Uniroyal friend, Ed Peterson of Altoona.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Oreen, on September 22, 2002; his parents; two brothers, Anzelm and Marcel; and three sisters, Theresa "Grace" Dega, Rufina Schilling, and Faustina "Fay" Kasten.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2002, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, with Father John Schultz officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church. There will be a 7 p.m. Public Prayer Service Friday at the funeral home with Sister Judi Wagener officiating.\r\nMemorials may be directed to St. James the Greater Catholic Church or Sacred Heart Hospital Building Fund.

Service Information