Bradley Allen “Brad” Slack, 53, passed away on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born on March 12, 1970, in Green Bay, WI, to Allen and Gloria (Thor) Slack.
At age 6, Brad played in the Allouez Soccer League. By age 11, he hung up his soccer cleats and picked up a tennis racquet, playing locally at Green Isle Park, in Allouez. His first coach was his dad – that was short lived. Brad began taking lessons at the Four Seasons Tennis Club from the then tennis pro, Mark Medow, for the next 7 years. Mark was instrumental in developing Brad’s technique, stroke and production. In addition to Mark Medow, Ted Sprinkman, Bob Colleran, Bill Feucht, and good friends Mike Larscheid and Mark Mandich all helped to hone in Brad’s skills throughout his tennis career.
Brad was a 1988 graduate of Abbot Pennings High School, De Pere, WI. While on the boy’s tennis team, he and his teammates earned multiple Team Conference Championships, and a #1 State Doubles Team Championship his sophomore year with Dale Voeks, Scott Colby and Dean Delasanta. His junior year the team won State. The State Championship team was comprised of Brad, Dale Voeks, Ray Calaguan, Dean Delasanta, Scott Colby, Andy Lulloff and Dave McMonagle. In addition, Brad won the #1 Singles state title (finished the season with only 2 losses), he was Player of the Week in the Chronicle and Player of the Year in the Conference. In addition to high school tennis, Brad competed in United States Tennis Association (USTA) in singles and doubles from the age of 11-18. Brad received a full athletic scholarship from the University of Evansville (UE), Evansville, IN, allowing him to competitively play for another 4 years. While at UE, Brad became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
In April 1994, Brad and Tonya (Zeinert) met at American Medical Security (AMS) at the insistence of a co-worker, Lori Koch. Tonya will tell you she was initially attracted to Brad because he drove a truck. In time his love for her, for his and her family, his sense of humor and his support is what won her over. On June 21, 1997, Lori was one of the many friends and family in attendance to witness Brad and Tonya exchange marriage vows at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wittenberg, WI. Brad worked in the health insurance industry his entire career, primarily as a health underwriter. He started at AMS and spent the last sixteen years at Humana.
Brad’s greatest achievement is his daughter Sydney. When Sydney decided not to swing a racquet, he learned all he could about volleyball, the positions, players and the strategies. Even after all of the car rides to practices, tournaments and trips out of state, he would do it all over again if given the opportunity. He was proud of her sportsmanship, he supported her decisions, and he respected the sacrifices she made for her love of the game. He was her biggest fan and loved to watch her play. In 2022, Brad was overjoyed as he watched her cross the stage at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, commencement ceremony where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Nutrition. He will continue to watch over her, giving her love and strength.
Brad recognized, appreciated, and never took for granted the wonderful friendships that came from not only his years as an athlete, but also as a parent of an athlete.
Life after sports meant there was more time for Brad to enjoy his hobbies. He would spend hours in the woods sitting, walking, preparing food plots, and hunting with his father-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces in Tigerton and Shepley or at the property of good friend, Bill Waterstreet, in Kewaunee. When he didn’t have a deer or turkey tag, you could find him in the backyard tending to his flower beds, listening to/feeding the birds, watching the various wildlife pass through and playing with his Airedale; Boomer. Boomer was his confidant, entertainment, training buddy and outdoor companion.
Brad will be deeply missed by his wife, Tonya; their daughter, Sydney; parents, Allen & Gloria Slack; parents-in-law, Darwin & Elizabeth Zeinert; brothers-in-law, Phil (Naomi) Zeinert, Bradley (Kari) Zeinert, Brent Zeinert, Eric (Amanda) Zeinert; nephews, Justin (fiancé Kristina), Jonah, Ian (special friend Maddy) Zeinert; nieces, Arianna (John) Cismoski, Siri, Melana and Samara Zeinert, two great-nephews, two great-nieces, a great-great-nephew and many aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Adolph & Mary Thor; paternal grandparents, Mansel & Norma Slack; nephew, Zachary Zeinert; uncles, Audie Thor, Jeffrey Glackin; and a cousin-in-law, Brittany (Kallies) Slack.
The family would like to thank the physicians and nurses at Bellin Hospital and The Cancer Team at Bellin Health, Green Bay, WI; Cancer Center – Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI; and the Neuroscience ICU at UW Health University Hospital, Madison, WI. To Unity Hospice, De Pere, WI, and Proko-Wall Funeral Home, Green Bay, WI, your compassion for and care of Brad was greatly appreciated.
There will be a Memorial Gathering from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16th, at Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Brad’s memory may be made to the following nonprofit organizations: The Brain Center of Green Bay, 2801 S. Webster Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54301; Wisconsin Humane Society Green Bay Campus, 1830 Radisson St., Green Bay, WI 54302; and Froedtert Hospital Foundation, visit https://www.froedtert.com/giving/foundation/make-a-gift for options by which to make a donation.