Thomas J. Gillespie
January 2, 2020
Thomas J. Gillespie 93, passed
peacefully from this world into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ on January 2, 2020 at his Newton residence. He was born
November 11, 1926 in Phillips, Wisconsin to Thomas E. and Olive M (
Butler) Gillespie.
He graduated from Rock Island High
School in 1945. On February 7, 1959 he married Dorothy T Grosse at
Rockford, Illinois and she preceded him in death on May 12, 2003.
Thomas moved to Newton in 2001 to be closer to his family
He served his country in the U.S. Army
where he served as a ambulance driver in WWII. He earned his
honorable discharge in 1946.
Thomas had a love of music and played
drums since he was a young man. He was a member of the Tri-City
Musical Association and the Rockford Musical Association. He enjoyed
Big Bands, Dance Bands and Dixie Land Jazz.
He was a typesetter by trade and
completed 25 years in the International Typographical Union and
continued instruction in compugraphic systems until his retirement
after 50 years in the trade.
He was a generous blood donor through
the years and will be remembered as a loving husband of 44 years and
proud and loving father and grandfather.
He is survived by his daughter and son
in law Shirley and Brad Stephens of Newton, Grand children Colin;
Sarah; Darin and his sister Nancy Vercautran of Moline, IL.
He is preceded in death by his wife,
parents and three sisters.
Private family graveside service will
be held in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Newton
