10/17/2025
**Eight Bells** for Tom Simonsen
With deep respect, we strike "eight bells" in honor of longtime LWYC member and former Commodore Tom Simonsen. In maritime tradition, the sounding of eight bells marks the end of a sailor’s watch—and, symbolically, the completion of a life’s final voyage. Ships once rang a bell every half hour to keep time; eight bells signified the close of a four-hour watch. Tom’s watch is over, but his legacy of service sails on.
https://www.pedersonvolker.com/obituaries/thomas-simonsen
I learned today of the passing of Tom Simonsen this past weekend.
It is hard for me to express how important Tom was to the lake Wissota Yacht Club and as a friend. Tom was a man who everyone would, and could depend on. His passion for sailing and his love for the yacht club was infectious.
Tom got into the sport of sailing when he and his wife were shopping for a new house and they came across a boat for sale at one of the locations they were looking at. They didn’t buy the house, but they did buy the boat. Tom showed up at the yacht club with a great looking Mutineer in tow. He quickly became part of the club and was out almost every weekend sailing and racing on the water. He learned fast and it seemed within the first couple of seasons he was always out front and leading the fleet around the marks.
His passion for sailing was only equaled by his passion for his wife Shari and their two boys. For the Simonsen’s the yacht club was a second home. Tom would bring his boys out to help him crew for a race or have the whole family on the boat for an afternoon of lapping the island. Tom was also a Big Brother. Several times he would introduce his love of sailing to a young man who would never have that kind of opportunity if it was not for Tom.
Tom was also one of the handiest persons you could ever meet. It started with his ongoing tinkering with his own boat. Improving systems, new rigging, getting new sails, or adding to his sail inventory. But it didn’t stop with just his boat. For years Tom worked hard to keep all of our club boats working, and a lot of our systems around the club operating in good working order. I know that he and I replaced the well pump at the club at least 5-6 times over the years. A job that Tom could do with his eyes closed.
After his retirement you could almost always find Tom around the club. He would come out to the lake and work on little projects he knew needed to be done. Fixing a dock, repairing the boat lift, cleaning up the grounds, whatever needed attention Tom would just do it. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s he would try to spend even more time at the club. Some days it would be to go for a sail, other days it would be just to come out and work on one of his many projects. Tom was an inspiration on how not to let a small problem like Parkinson’s hold you back from enjoying life and being with your friends and family.
For myself, so much of the club brings great memories of times I spent with my friend Tom. I will miss him.
Joe Horan
View Thomas W. Simonsen's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
