Thomas J. Honl, age 65, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at his home is Stevens Point.

Tom was the youngest of six children born in Oakes, North Dakota, to Irene (Baker) and Bernard Honl. The family made their way to Wautoma, Wis., to start a new life on beautiful Silver Lake to run Silvercryst Resort. When he was merely three years old Tom lost his father and was raised with the love and attention of his mother, brothers and sisters.

The lake community became his second family and he was blessed with strong mentors in his life, most especially a father figure in Jack Mares and Dr. Tom Poulette, who introduced him and encouraged him to explore the world of dentistry.

Tom thrived in educational environments, graduating from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 1975. Tom then established a general dental practice in Stevens Point, Wis., that same year and practiced for more than 35 years.

Tom was a lifelong learner. He went on to achieve his Masters in General Dentistry as well as his Fellowship with the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and ultimately became a Diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Tom continued to challenge himself in his career, developing new skills, and expanding services for his patients. These included cosmetic dentistry, laser surgery, sedation dentistry, and oral appliance therapy for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, as well as orofacial pain treatment for patients with headaches and head & neck pain.

Tom married Jaqulynn Honl (Nellessen) on June 22, 2012. In 2013, with the support and encouragement of his wife, Tom set out to realize his dream and established Central Wisconsin’s first Dental Sleep Center; Advanced TMD and Dental Sleep Center in Plover, Wis. His practice focused exclusively on helping people who suffered with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, TMJ problems, headaches, and head & neck pain.

Tom is survived by a loving family including his wife Jaqulynn; his children from a previous marriage, Ellie Honl Herman (Michael Herman) and Daniel Honl (Shannon Thomas Honl); stepchildren Hannah, Maxwell, and Benjamin Lundgren; and his siblings Jerry Honl (Sandie Neuenschwander), Donna Tompkins, Mary Peterson, Raymond Honl (Nancy Woodworth), and Joan Honl.
He was preceded in death by his father Bernard Honl and mother Irene Baker Honl Olesen, stepfather Evon Olesen, brothers-in-law David Tompkins, Duane Peterson, and Jack Curtis.

Beyond Tom’s profession, his love of reading, Packer games, and playing Scrabble may have kept him indoors; however, his love of the outdoors was evident throughout his life. He was a masterful gardener, swimmer, fisherman, scuba diver, and camping enthusiast. His greatest memories were his many travels to Canada fly-in fishing expeditions with his sons and friends, and his travels to the Czech Republic with Charles Gust, daughter Ellie, and cousin Mary Anthony to research the history of the Honl family.

Dr. Thomas Honl will be greatly missed for his service to his patients, his community, and his professional organizations. But more so by the family and friends who knew him well, whose lives he impacted, and whose hearts he touched forever.

A private service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Pisarski Funeral Home in Plover.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Thomas J. Honl Memorial Fund. Mail donations to Pisarski Funeral Home P.O. Box 193 Plover, Wis. 54467.

For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.