Thomas "Tom" Wilbur Forester Bull

Thomas “Tom” Wilbur Forester Bull passed away peacefully the morning of October 22, 2026 at Anita’s Gardens in Brookfield, Wisconsin after suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia for more than a decade. He was 71 years old.

Tom was born on October 23, 1954 in Burlington, Vermont to Bill and Barbara Bull. He was the second of four children. He grew up loving hiking, playing soccer, skiing and visiting the family cabin on the coast of Maine, Brightwater. There, he sailed, built a tram, enjoyed family gatherings at Popham Beach, and lounging in the hammock; Brightwater was easily his favorite place on Earth.

Tom attended St. Lawrence University where he was a champion ski jumper. After graduation, he taught in New England for several years before heading out to Indiana University to earn a Doctorate of Physical Education. He taught for many years at Earlham College, Olivet College (where he met and married Peggy), and at Carroll University. Mid-career, he earned a pharmacy degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked in and managed Aurora pharmacies for 20 years. He was proud to care for a community of patients and lead an engaged and effective team. They loved him back with cake and jokes.

Tom was proud of and loved his family. He transformed backyards into epic playgrounds, made toys, taught his kids to ride bikes, roller skate, and to love hikes and picnics. He was proud of their educational achievements. In the young years of their family, he could often be found with a baby or toddler sleeping on his chest.

When he wasn’t working or with his family, Tom was wood-working, running, cycling, or cross-country skiing. He relished endurance challenges and raced many marathons (including the Boston Marathon), skied multiple Birkebeiners in Wisconsin, and completed several Door County Centuries and two multi-day bike events in Iowa. As Parkinson’s Disease diminished his physical abilities, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of building model HO trains.

Tom is preceded in death by his son (Andy Bull) and survived by his wife of 38 years, Peggy Bull, his daughter, Kari Bull (Patipan Pipatpinyopong), and granddaughter, Jennie Joy. He also leaves behind his sisters Christine (Steve) Soderling and Susan (Richard) Riley, and his brother Peter Bull (Michele Dunlavey), one aunt and many cousins, nieces and nephews and other relatives. He has also left behind many dear and caring friends from all his years and walks of life.

He will be remembered for his love of chocolate, and dogs (especially Westies), baking pies for holiday potlucks, building clocks, telling corny jokes, cheering on his family in their athletic pursuits, flipping pancakes at Minooka, and singing music exclusively from the 1960s and 1970s. If your loved ones bump into him in Heaven, he will certainly ask them “where are you from?”

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to UW Madison Foundation or Rush University. 

UW Madison:

Gifts to the Pharmacy Class of 1990 can be made online at https://secure.supportuw.org/give/?id=23b9c8ce-18f3-45de-aefc-430a6c1c6850 or supportuw.org/giveto/tribute or be made payable to “UW Foundation” with a note to direct as a tribute to Tom Bull /the Pharmacy Class of 1990. Mail to UW Foundation, US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-8807.

Rush University:

This fund was especially important to him because it funded the many research programs in which he and Peggy participated.

Donations can be made to support Rush University Medical Center's Parkinson's Patients and Caregivers Wellbeing Fund. Please visit rushgiving.com/wellbeingparkinsonstribute or send memorial gifts to the Office of Philanthropy, 28057 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1280.

No service is scheduled at this time. Please do reach out with your memories of Tom; all are cherished.