Thomas John Brieske

Thomas John Brieske, 71, of Decatur, Ga., died Sunday, Nov. 7. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sept. 2, 1939, he was the son of the late Lawrence Paul Brieske and Margaret Neeb Brieske.

He graduated from Don Bosco High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, where he played for the Rattlers basketball team and was a member of Sigma Beta Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1969 from the University of South Carolina with a doctorate degree in mathematics. He retired in 1996 after 27 years as a mathematics professor emeriti from Georgia State University, where he taught and mentored a generation of high school math teachers in Georgia. After retirement, he volunteered with Drew Charter School in Atlanta and was a patron of the East Lake Foundation.

An avid long-distance runner, he ran in more than 25 AJC Peachtree Road Races. He was politically active for more than 50 years and was a proud member of the Democratic Party.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Mary Ann Brieske; brother-in-law, Dave Multhauf; niece, Laura Multhauf; sister-in-law, Carolyn Velarde Tromer; and numerous uncles and aunts. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Jeanie Velarde Brieske of Decatur; his sons and daughters-in-law, John and Beth Brieske of Stone Mountain, Jim and Cindy Brieske of Decatur, and Robbie and Sarah Brieske of Snellville; grandchildren, Paul, Michael, Julianna, Lucas, Georgia and Nathan Brieske; sister Barbara Multhauf of New Berlin, Wisconsin; brothers, Robert Brieske (Mary) of Muskego, Wisconsin, and Fred Brieske (Margaret) of Brookfield, Wisconsin; and aunt Ruth Neeb Graf of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.

Special thanks to Winship Cancer Institute and Emory University Hospital - especially the nurses who cared for him.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Atlanta. Private internment will be at Decatur Cemetery. Arrangements by A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur, 404-292-1551.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the East Lake Foundation (404-373-4351) or St. Anthony School of Milwaukee (414-384-6612).


Funeral Home:
AS Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033