Thomas Wade January Jr.'s Obituary
Thomas Wade January, Jr., age 53, of Fayetteville, AR passed away Sunday, July 7, 2024. He was born August 13, 1970, in Fayetteville, AR.
Wade was a retired Major in the United States Army and co-owner of Tom January Floors. In service, Wade was in Operation Noble Eagle at Mount Sinai, Egypt from Oct 2001 to Aug 2002; Operation Iraqi Freedom Jan-2003-Jan-2004; and Operation Iraqi Freedom Jun-2009-July-2010. He served the 318th Psychological Operations Company and the Operations Global War on Terrorism. Wade held his soldiers dear and considered them family.
Wade’s sense of honor and duty was extraordinary, coupled with genuine compassion, kindness, and a sincere interest in your well-being. Wade would urge all soldiers to take care of themselves. The demands of a military profession took a toll on his body, both physically and mentally. Wade was always there to reach out, lend support, or provide a place to stay for fellow soldiers in need. Wade would want his friends to carry forward his legacy of compassion and care for others. Wade received medals for saving the lives of fellow servicemen, and he did so without regard for recognition. He was humble, kind, loyal, and smart.
Wade cherished Brandy, his devoted wife of over a decade, with unwavering love. She not only shared his deep commitment to family but also stood alongside him in support of their two young children, their military comrades, and their civilian friends. Brandy's parents welcomed Wade into their family as a beloved son without hesitation. Even Brandy's sister affectionately joked that Brandy had married their father—a compliment Leo graciously accepted, recognizing the deep bond Wade had forged with his new family.
His deep love for his family was evident in every moment he shared with his nephews and own two young children, reflecting the tenderness he had as a child himself and throughout life.
Living on "Wade time," he embraced life with a laid-back demeanor, free from the distractions that entangled others. Wade approached everything on his own terms, often choosing the path less traveled, even if it meant taking the more challenging route. Raised by Tom and Cathy, Wade and his brother Chris were instilled with a strong work ethic from a young age. They learned the value of self-reliance and perseverance, always mindful that true rewards in life come through effort and determination.
Friends liken seeing Wade to stumbling upon your lost keys just in time to reach your destination. The relief of finding them is immense, yet it sparks curiosity about how they ended up in such an unexpected place. Wade was a passionate outdoorsman who reveled in water skiing, camping, hiking, rappelling, canoeing, kayaking, and indulged in hunting (quail, deer, and duck), fishing, and rock climbing alike.
Wade's extraordinary life stories are as sensational as they are amazing and hilarious, seeming almost unbelievable, yet every tale is authentic and grounded in truth—he was not one to exaggerate. Photographs capture him rafting through Alaskan whitewater on one day and leisurely reclining in a captured palace in Tikrit, Iraq, on another. Wade was consistently at the center of action, making things happen, and rescuing the day, all while maintaining a profoundly positive outlook on life.
Wade would want us to remember him as an intrepid adventurer, a fiercely devoted family man, and an unwaveringly loyal friend.
Survivors are his wife, Brandy Lennemann January; his daughters, Sydney January, Charlotte January; his parents, Tom January, Cathy Cowan January; a brother, Chris January (Robin); nephews, Will January, Matt January, and Owen January.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 12, at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Rosary service will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fayetteville. Funeral mass will follow at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Private burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund, 1722 N. Starr Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
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