Thomas David Rager, Sr., 75, of Sayner, Wisc., formerly of Nebraska, passed away surrounded by family in September 2025.
Tom was born on Aug. 31, 1950, to Ida May and Frank Rager in a small farmhouse one mile north of Winnebago. He was the youngest of nine children. After the death of his father when Tom was just five years old, his older siblings became his mentors and protectors. He is survived by his sister, Janet, who remained a trusted confidant and lifelong companion.
In his youth, Tom enjoyed hunting and fishing, often learning discipline and perseverance through the challenges of limited means. Those lessons, along with the guidance of his mother, shaped his ability to connect with people, make friends easily, and stay curious about the world around him.
On July 12, 1969, Tom married the love of his life, Janet O’Neill, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jackson. Together they built a life filled with adventure, business ventures, and a shared passion for snowmobiles. Their marriage was one of devotion, laughter, and unwavering partnership. Janet passed away in March 2024. Though Tom had hoped to return to Nebraska to hold a funeral for her, his own declining health and repeated hospitalizations prevented it. Now, in God’s providence, Tom and Janet will be honored together in the service that perhaps he always wanted.
Tom’s career was marked by both entrepreneurial and competitive spirit. He owned and operated a successful commercial cleaning business in Nebraska from 1972 to 1982 before moving to Wisconsin where Tom and Janet bought a resort on Plum Lake. Tom started working for Ski-Doo in 1986 as a district sales manager and then became race manager from 1995-2000. In 2000 Tom, made the move to Polaris to rebuild their race program until he retired in 2012. Whether managing race budgets or playing cards with family, Tom found joy in the spirit of the game.
While Tom achieved great success, he also endured profound loss. The passing of his oldest daughter, Tracy, in 1999 humbled and softened him, leaving him to help raise his granddaughter, Tara. Through grief and triumph, Tom remained devoted to his family above all else.
He is survived by his children, Thomas David Rager, Jr. (Amanda) and Amanda Pekah (Brian); his grandchildren, Tara, Justin, and Matty; and his sister, Janet. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, his daughter Tracy, his parents, Frank and Ida May, and seven siblings.
A funeral Mass for both Tom and Janet will be held at 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jackson. Interment will take place on July 12, 2026, at the cemetery in Sayner, Wisc.
If the measure of a man’s life is his love for family, his resilience in hardship, and the legacy he leaves behind, then Tom’s life was nothing short of legendary. And in the end, as in life, Tom and Janet go forward together — hand in hand.
