Thomas E. Argall

MUSCODA – Thomas Argall, age 80, passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at his home.

He was born February 17, 1946, the son of Alfred and Madge (Brewer) Argall. After the death of his mother in October 1959, Tom became the cook and housekeeper for his father and two brothers. That was the start of a lifelong love of cooking.

Tom attended the Mifflin Grade School and graduated from Iowa-Grant High School in 1964 where he participated in football, wrestling, and baseball. After a year at UW-Platteville, he returned home to farm with his father before striking out on his own.

A disciple of Og Mandino, author of The Greatest Salesman in the World, Tom scorned salesmen who “couldn’t sell guts to a hungry bear.” He spent his entire career in agribusiness. Whether selling seed, fertilizer, Harvestores, machinery, or chemicals, Tom proved he was a great salesman.

Tom loved motorcycles, the new car smell, Canadian fishing trips, limiting out on bluegills on the Chippewa Flowage, hunting, watching birds at the feeder, holiday meals for family, and closing a deal. Although he shunned most technology and refused to use email, he thought YouTube was the world’s greatest invention.

Tom is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lois (third time really is a charm!), his son Steven (JoDee) of Lancaster and his children Vince, Colton, and Tristan; his daughter Angela (Phil Schneider) of Madison; granddaughter Alexis (Chris Blair) of Madison; stepdaughters Martina Steger (David Kenney) and Nadia Steger (Momar Pouye) and their son Malcom of Las Vegas, NV; brother Richard (Barb) of Platteville; stepsister Judy (Marvin) Paulson of Plymouth, WI; and stepbrothers Terry (Diane) Schell of Texas and Lonnie (Millie) Schell of Boscobel; and step sister-in-law Pat Schell.

He agreed that obituaries for people who lived to at least 80, should not say “preceded in death by his parents” since that was pretty much a given. So, Tom was preceded in death by his son William Argall, sister Jacqueline (Tom) O’Flahrity and her sons Mike and Tom, brother Fritz Argall and his son John Argall, nephews Chad and Richard Argall, stepbrothers Jerry and Gary Schell, and Dale Earnhardt, his all-time favorite NASCAR driver.