Thomas R. Kosmatka

Thomas “Tom” Ronald Kosmatka, 86, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin passed away Sunday, July 27, 2025. He was born in Milwaukee July 6, 1939 to the late Raymond and Helen (Dembczak) Kosmatka.

Tom and his wife, Darleen, were married on New Year’s Eve in 1960 having dated for several years after being set up on a blind date. Shortly thereafter, they bought their home in Oak Creek and started their family.

Tom and Darleen were the parents of four daughters, Annette (Ted) Williams, Rene (Paul) Ambrose, Michelle Kosmatka, Bridget (Patrick) Thyne, six grandchildren; Karl (Becky), Amanda (Nick), Nicholas (Anna), Samantha, Graham (Brooke), Abby and Eric, and seven great-grandchildren; Chase, Evan, Sophia, Dominic, Belmont, Archer and Daphne.

Tom is also survived by his sister, Kathy Todd, brothers in law, Michael (Karen) Okonek, Timothy (Beverly) Okonek and sister in law Patricia Szmurlo. Tom will be fondly remembered by nieces, nephews and caring neighbors. He will be truly missed by his loving cat Sushi.

Tom had several jobs during his lifetime. As a new husband and soon to be father, he was hired by AC Electronics Division of GM (AC Delco) in Oak Creek and was proud to work on the AC navigation guidance systems used by NASA to steer the Apollo spacecrafts in earth and lunar orbits, lunar landings and return flights. As the space program wound down, the program at Delco closed and he worked several different jobs. He eventually signed on with Briggs and Stratton and worked until retirement designing small engines. It always seemed like he had an extra engine in the garage for a broken lawnmower or a go-cart.

One of Tom’s greatest passions was airplanes. As a small boy he built models and as he grew, eventually earned a pilot’s license and owned his own plane. Many of the places he would take Darleen were small airports around the area such as Hales Corners Airport. Their dates would be driving to the airport and flying to different places or just taking a ride. As his family grew, the time to fly became family time so trips to Mitchell Field to watch planes land and take off happened frequently. When grandchildren and great-grandchildren would come to visit, he was always willing to talk airplanes, and make models or paper airplanes. He was never happier than sitting outside, hearing a plane flyover and checking to see what kind of plane it was. He could name them all.

Tom kept busy with many hobbies. He was a skilled woodworker making trucks, trains, coasters, and ornaments for the family. He loved to spend time in the garden and started several of his plants in the house to transfer outside. He was skilled at growing orchids and violets for houseplants. His recent hobbies included painting birdhouses and doing crossword puzzles.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents Helen (Dembczak) and Raymond Kosmatka, wife Darleen, daughter Annette and brother Gary Kosmatka. The family would like to thank Zilber Hospice for the care and compassion he received while he was there.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Max A. Sass and Sons, Greenridge Chapel, 4747 South 60th Street, Greenfield, from 11 am to 1 pm Saturday, August 2, 2025. A funeral service will follow at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Zilber Hospice, or Susan G. Komen (Wisconsin).