Funeral services for Thaddeaus Caden Wisenbaugh, 21, of Oacoma, SD  will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Central Plains E-Free Church, Chamberlain, SD.  Visitation will be held Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hickey Funeral Chapel, Chamberlain.

Thaddeus Caden Nathaniel Wisenbaugh

September 30, 2004 – January 20, 2026

On September 30, 2004, a baby boy was born into the world in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was tenderly fostered for two months, and on November 30th, his mom and dad arrived in Dallas and he became Thaddeus Caden Nathaniel Wisenbaugh. His parents, Aaron and Melissa Wisenbaugh, fell deeper in love with him each day.

He was wild from the word go. He grew so fast and never seemed to slow down. As his family moved from Texas to North Carolina and then to South Dakota, he showed everyone he was not afraid to try new things. He once spent a long stint in the ICU after an adventurous injury; his parents asked God for mercy and a little more time. God was merciful, and the sweet boy grew. He loved his mom and dad.

He never let anything scare him. He seemed to have an endless supply of energy and never saw a bad idea he wasn't completely interested in trying for himself.

In Junior High and High School, Caden made lifelong friends whom he loved very much and thought of as brothers. This little family's prayers were answered when, unexpectedly, they found out a baby was on the way. Elizabeth was born in a blizzard and, if you ask Caden, she never stopped causing chaos. He loved her deeply, and in her book, he is and always will be "the best Bubby in the world."

Thaddeus and Elizabeth were raised traveling from Michigan to Louisiana to visit extended families. He loved to explore and try new adventures, and his cousins always loved his visits and making memories with him. After growing and serving, he went to his parents and pastor and asked to be baptized in the river. Thaddeus loved God.

Life did what life does, and our fast-living boy hit adulthood at full speed. He worked hard to earn his GED and always held two or three jobs. His coworkers said his light and energy usually had everyone smiling when he was around. The impulsiveness that made for childhood adventure did not always make for successful choices in adulthood, but he met most struggles head-on. In the midst of it all, he met Zeta and he was smitten.

Zeta and Indy (Indica) became the center of his world. Thaddeus wanted to be a great dad for his little boy. If you ran into him in town, he would often tell you something Indy had recently learned or something funny he had said or done. He loved his little boy.

Even the most beautiful stories don't always have happy endings. Our sweet boy decided to leave us long before any of our hearts were ready. He was overwhelmed, and our still-impulsive adventurer went ahead of us to see the great mystery. His light has returned from whence it came.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

He was not perfect. He did not always choose right, but he was loving and kind. He will be forever missed. We loved our boy.

Thaddeus is survived by Indy and his parents Aaron and Melissa Wisenbaugh, his little sister Elizabeth, his big Sister Danielle Two Two and Brother Richie Two Two, and his beautiful nieces and nephews. His loving Michigan and Louisiana grandparents, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.