Thaddeus “Tad” Cada, age 63, was born in Schuyler, Nebraska and was raised in Wahoo, Nebraska.
He maintained many lifelong friendships with his classmates from high school and shared many fun memories with them.

Tad left the family sprinkler business and founded Cada Brothers, Inc. underground sprinklers in 2000. He was the President of the company until he was forced to retire after an ALS diagnosis in early 2021. Tad loved his work and was considered the most efficient sprinkler installer by many friends in the related trades. He was very proud of his business and became friends with many of his customers. He never declined a telephone call from a customer, no matter the time. He always wanted to help if he could.

Tad was Dad to four loving daughters, three of whom started as step-daughters from a previous marriage. His love for them was boundless and, over time, they all became his girls. He claimed them as his own and he would do anything for them. He showed them a father’s true love and they returned it in kind, especially after he became ill. His girls were a great source of assistance, comfort and joy as his health failed. His own daughter, Hannah, was his pride and joy.

Tad was a great adventurer and you were lucky to get invited to tag along on a “Tadventure”! When he was 22, he lived in Vail, Colorado for a season, working so that he could ski every day. It was the time of his life! He continued to be an avid snow skier and water skier throughout his whole life. Tad also loved fishing with friends, both locally and in South Dakota. He loved taking people fishing, hoping they would experience the excitement of catching a fish. He had a ski boat and loved boating on the Missouri River. He was known for parasailing on the Missouri and had many boating friends.

In 2017, Tad met his wife & soulmate, Mechelle, and they traveled extensively during his off seasons, including to Ireland and Thailand. They continued to cover the country after his diagnosis, traveling to spend time with friends and family, until he was no longer able.

Tad had a remarkable memory and never forgot the birthdays of his many friends, grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Tad made life look easy and lived with an uncompromised joy. His natural demeanor was full of life and humor, and he was always up for a practical joke. Tad gave the biggest, warmest hugs! If Tad loved you, you knew it! He was never shy to express his
appreciation for the many people in his life who he counted as family or friends.

Tad was a wonderful, kind, generous, funny man who showed his great love to all of his family and friends. A bright light has gone out on Earth and we will all do well to follow his example and enjoy life to the fullest.

Tad is survived by his wife Mechelle Keller of Omaha; parents Francis and Charolette Cada of Wahoo, Nebraska; brother Tim (Krisanne) Cada and family of Clarkson, Nebraska; sister Geradette (Dennis) Bohac and family of Valparaiso, Nebraska; daughters Jennifer Papproth, Amy (Brent) Dahmke, Elizabeth Ryan, and Hannah Cada; grandchildren Chloe Papproth, Ava and Owen Dahmke, all of Omaha; and numerous nieces and nephews. Tad is also survived by his chosen family, parents Denver Wallace of Spicewood, Texas and Lorraine Planck of Omaha, Nebraska; the Keller Family; and Brothers in Love: Darren (Zag) Morton, Wynn Clemmer, Mike Kline, Tim Cheers, Scott Gardner, Kelly Nelson, Dave Moore, Trent Reimer, and Ron Reimer.

A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2024. Condolences and memorials may be directed to the family at PO Box 31014, Omaha, NE 68131.

Memorials may also be directed to the Team Gleason Foundation, which provides equipment assistance to ALS patients at https://teamgleason.org/donate/