Tom Sharratt, Westby… age 82, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Tom completed a bachelor’s degree in agriculture at UW – Madison in 1964. At the same time, he received a commission in the US Regular Army and served on active duty for 21 years as a Field Artillery officer. He retired as a Major, having served in a variety of assignments in the US; over seven years in Europe with US, Belgian, and British armies where he specialized in the readiness and security of nuclear weapons; and in Viet Nam in 1967-68. While in the Army, he completed a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.
In 1996, Tom and his beloved wife Sharon (Burkhalter) moved to their farm in Timber Coulee near the Snowflake Ski Club, in Westby. He enjoyed the rest of his life raising trees and organic crops. He and Sharon shared a deep love for the land, and worked hard at being good stewards. They chose to protect their land with a land conservation easement with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy in 2016. He had four loves in his life – Sharon, his wife of 41 years; his two children and four grandchildren; agriculture; and railroads. Many people knew Tom only as “the guy with a railroad in his front yard.” Tom was active in the Westby United Methodist Church, Coon Valley American Legion Post 116, Westby VFW Post 8021, the Lexington Group, and a number of railroad museums around the country. He was also active in the Westby Area Schools as a volunteer representing veterans.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Church, Westby Area School District, or one of the veteran’s organizations he belonged to.