The life of Thomas J. Kundinger is a masterclass in building a foundation that supports family, future and industry. Thomas passed away in June 2025, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire our organization. Now, we honor the hardworking man who helped shape Kundinger, Inc. into what it is today and taught us all the values of leadership and generosity.

A Foundation in Hard Work and Family

Thomas’s career with Kundinger started long before he became the leader we all knew. From a young age, he held a role in the family business.

“I was 12 years old. My job, at that point in time, was when the phone would ring, I’d have to run down and shut the washer and dryer off so that it didn’t interfere with the phone call to the customer,” Thomas said during Kundinger’s 60th anniversary in 2021.

Those humble beginnings shaped Thomas’s work ethic early on. He learned what it meant to start at the ground level, to work as a team and to build a legacy you could share with those you loved. That perspective guided him as he worked his way through the organization over the years.

Carving a New Path in Wisconsin

Thomas moved his family to Wisconsin in 1980 to oversee a new Kundinger operation, expecting it to be a temporary assignment. However, over time, they fell in love with the state and chose to plant roots there.

In that time, Thomas rolled up his sleeves and worked side by side with his team, earning trust, understanding Kundinger’s customers and learning what made the community unique.

“And just to give you a little story,” Thomas shared in his 2021 interview, “Back in the early 70s, if I went to an automotive customer, I had to wear a three-piece suit and a tie. That was mandatory in Michigan. I’d be in foundries, engine plants and other places in the automotive industry where they needed hydraulics and pneumatics. But I’d still be dressed in a three-piece suit.

So, I came over to Wisconsin, working with the guys here, I was still used to wearing a three-piece suit. I’d go into these little manufacturing facilities up in Wisconsin, and everybody would kind of look at me when I walked in with a three-piece suit.

Finally, one guy stopped me on the way out and said, ‘Tommy, I really love you, but I’m going to tell you right now—don’t you ever come back here wearing a suit and tie. If you do, we won’t let you in.’

That was the kind of thing that really endeared me to Wisconsin.”

Thomas became a second-generation leader of Kundinger Inc., succeeding his father, Thomas A. Kundinger, and guiding the company into a new era of growth.

What began as a small operation in Wisconsin flourished under Thomas’s leadership, eventually expanding to six Wisconsin locations. He amplified Kundinger’s offerings, growing into manufacturing, service and repair and other areas and industries where customers needed innovative solutions.

Industry and Community

Thomas’s future-forward approach to leadership and mentorship reflected his genuine care for people and his passion for advancing the fluid power and automation industries.

Early on, he recognized the need to spark interest and attract young talent to the field. Thomas focused his efforts into his involvement with the Fluid Power Distributors Association (FPDA). One of Thomas’s key contributions was helping to launch the FPDA Young Executives group, a platform to mentor and involve the next generation of industry professionals. This platform laid the foundation for FPDA’s Future Leaders in Motion (FLM) program, a 13-month mentorship and training program that equips emerging leaders in the fields of fluid power and automation with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to advance. 

This commitment to supporting future leaders inspired the Kundinger family to establish The Thomas J. Kundinger Foundation, which will help FLM program participants access this valuable educational experience. For Thomas, cultivating the potential in young talent and creating opportunities was central to his vision. Through his foundation, his legacy will continue to shape the future of the industry he cared for so deeply.

A Legacy of Showing Up

While there’s no doubt he had success in business, Thomas’s proudest accomplishment was his family. He found his greatest joy in spending time with his wife, Joanne, and their children. He was the proud father of five sons and grandfather to nine grandchildren. Thomas especially cherished the time they spent together in Mexico where he made memories while deep sea fishing, something he truly enjoyed doing.

To Thomas, being a family man meant always showing up. His sons fondly remember him as the sideline coach, the cheerleader and the generous sponsor of their countless youth sports teams over the years.

Together with Joanne, Thomas held a firm belief that all individuals should be given the opportunity to feel accomplished in their endeavors supported causes that gave individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the workplace.

If you knew Thomas, he wasn’t about standing still. He was about being present, working hard and giving back to support his community and his family. He carried that same determination into the next generation, with three of his sons who now lead Kundinger with strength, grace and the same passion for their work and community. At Kundinger, Inc., we strive to honor Thomas’s legacy by continuing Kundinger’s tradition of service and embodying the generosity and dedication that defined his life.

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