Thym, Patrick D.

Patrick D. Thym passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 after a long illness.

He was born in Dodgeville along with his twin brother, Paul, on December 9, 1936 to Mary (Owens) and Paul Thym.

Pat graduated from Dodgeville High School and right after that he and his brother opened a burger and malt diner called the Huddle in 1957. He loved to cook and entertain people so he and Paul continued their dream and built The Thym’s Supper Club in 1964 which continued for 45 years. There, Pat met the love of his life, Loretta, and they were married on March 10, 1969.  Pat and Loretta loved to entertain guests, family, and friends at the Club and hosted several events including wedding receptions, parties of all kinds, holiday events, and Sunday Brunch.  It truly was "the place to be" and people came from all over to see and be seen.  

Pat had the gift of gab! You could sit for hours and listen to many interesting stories and also hear about his love of antique cars.  He owned many of them years ago and would drive them in parades advertising Thym’s. Pat and Loretta travelled a lot during their free time and he loved to share the stories of their adventures and reminisce about his love for Loretta and their precious time together to his grandkids. In the late 90's, Loretta suffered a severe stroke.  Pat's love for her never waivered.  He was her caretaker, guardian angel, and showed her sacrificial love until the very end when she died in 2009. 

If there was a flea market or garage sale, you would find Pat there. He loved to collect Cardinal figurines, Western items and also Harley Davidson items which, by the way, you could always recognize him by his Harley Davidson cap, leather vest and jacket. 

St. Patrick's Day was one of his favorite holidays. He always wore green with a Lucky 4-leaf clover pin and went out for corned beef and cabbage. But the best holiday memory of all was Christmas. He and mom had such beautiful decorations at Thym’s as well as at their home. We had so many Christmas traditions like oyster stew, Vermicelli, a kitchen table full of desserts, fudge, and homemade wine. He loved to make rosettes and would take them to many of his friends.

Another wonderful memory was taking the grandkids fishing at Governor Dodge and going for ice cream afterwards.

He enjoyed golfing and playing cards with his buddies from Mineral Point for many years, cards at the Red Room with his friends on Friday nights, cards and Bingo after the holidays with his grandchildren while sipping on Grey Goose!

He loved to hunt Canadian Geese and pheasants. He loved going to Las Vegas with family, visiting his sister in California and brother-in-law in Antigo, and heading down to Dubuque to gamble for a day or even for an all-nighter visit. Often during his trips to Dubuque he would make a stop for mass at one of his favorite churches, St. Joseph the Worker. 

With owning a supper club and being part of the Tavern League, he met many wonderful people and had many good friends he truly cared about and loved!  

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years.

He was the most loving and caring person and loved spending time with his family and friends. He lived his life to the fullest until the end. We will miss his smile and his jokes!  Pat will surely be missed!

He is survived by his daughter Deb (Dennis) Fingerson, Dodgeville, daughter Dawn Higgins (Kurt Bennett), Dodgeville, sister Marilyn Neu, California, brother-in-law Sam Hardin, Antigo, daughter-in-law Denise Thym, Madison, sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Bowers, Montfort and Jean Prochaska, Montfort.

Grandchildren Farrah (Andy) Slinger, Waunakee, Jason (Jodi) Fingerson, Dodgeville, Carrie Higgins, Richland Center, Justin Higgins, Dodgeville, Jenny Higgins-Hermanson (Brad Hermanson) Edmund, Adam Thym, Madison, Mike (Annie) Thym, Evansville, Zach Bennett (Kelsey) Ridgeway, Calynn Bennett (Jeremy Litchfield) Dodgeville.

His great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Ben, Damien and Charlotte Slinger, Elsie and Josie Fingerson, Alfie Thym, Grace Higgins (Andrew Wolfe) Aliyah Meckley, Aysen Hermanson, Avery Higgins, Amelia and Maggie Thym, many nieces and nephews, very special friend Shirley Erickson, and Sarah Jane Thym, Janesville, and Nilda Morak, Madison.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Loretta, his son, Mitch Thym, his parents, his twin brother, Paul Thym, his sister, Mary Ann Hardin, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law John Neu, Bernard (Mary and Donna) Prohaska, Lavern (Lorraine) Prochaska, Roselyn (Bob Callin and 2nd husband Guerdon Voigts), Rita (Bob) Imhoff, Ervin Prochaska, Willard “Bud” Bowers, and great-granddaughter Olivia Higgins.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, at ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLICH CHURCH in Dodgeville. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service.

We’d like to thank Dr. Mullin and Dr. Porter for the wonderful care they gave Pat. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Iowa County Cancer Coalition.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com