Tom was born to George F. and Geraldine A. Mominee Heintschel.
Following the death of his father when Tom was 9 years old, his mother remarried Albert LaCourse on Jan. 27, 1940, at which time Tom and his siblings were legally adopted.
Tom graduated from Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio, in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired as a sergeant first class in 1975 with the Veterinary Unit as a food inspector.
Tom was stationed at Mickelberry Food Products in Bushnell, Ill., in the early 1950s, where he met and married Patricia Jane Everly. They had six children.
Following military retirement in 1975, Tom purchased and was proprietor of Swanie's Tap for many years, where he quickly became known for his friendly disposition and gained many lifelong friends of all ages.
He also worked at numerous grocery stores as a meat cutter during and after his time in the military, including Country Boy Market in Bushnell.
He married Rosalie Craig Banks on Nov. 22, 1977, and she preceded him in death on April 5, 2000.
Following his 42 years of active and inactive reserve service with the U.S. military, Tom continued his education and received his bachelor's of accounting degree from Western Illinois University, graduating in 1989 with national Dean's List honors. For his 70th birthday, Tom received a gift of flying lessons, which he completed, was exceptionally good at and enjoyed immensely.
Tom was a lifelong member of VFW Post 1422 in Bushnell, Ill.
His favorite pastimes were family gatherings, gardening, reading, bowling, and flirting and dancing with pretty girls, although perhaps not in that order.
Growing up in Oregon/Toledo, Ohio, his passions were playing ball with friends and ice boating on Lake Erie.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosie; three brothers, infant John F. LaCourse and World War II veterans Bobby and Howard LaCourse; one sister, Patricia Karoly; one son, Thomas LaCourse Jr.; one stepson, John Banks; and one granddaughter, Theresa Maloney.
Tom is survived by one brother, Ted LaCourse; and two sisters, Phyllis Sayers and Geraldine Reynolds.
Full obit in the Peoria Journal Star - June 30, 2012.
Tom was born to George F. and Geraldine A. Mominee Heintschel.
Following the death of his father when Tom was 9 years old, his mother remarried Albert LaCourse on Jan. 27, 1940, at which time Tom and his siblings were legally adopted.
Tom graduated from Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio, in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired as a sergeant first class in 1975 with the Veterinary Unit as a food inspector.
Tom was stationed at Mickelberry Food Products in Bushnell, Ill., in the early 1950s, where he met and married Patricia Jane Everly. They had six children.
Following military retirement in 1975, Tom purchased and was proprietor of Swanie's Tap for many years, where he quickly became known for his friendly disposition and gained many lifelong friends of all ages.
He also worked at numerous grocery stores as a meat cutter during and after his time in the military, including Country Boy Market in Bushnell.
He married Rosalie Craig Banks on Nov. 22, 1977, and she preceded him in death on April 5, 2000.
Following his 42 years of active and inactive reserve service with the U.S. military, Tom continued his education and received his bachelor's of accounting degree from Western Illinois University, graduating in 1989 with national Dean's List honors. For his 70th birthday, Tom received a gift of flying lessons, which he completed, was exceptionally good at and enjoyed immensely.
Tom was a lifelong member of VFW Post 1422 in Bushnell, Ill.
His favorite pastimes were family gatherings, gardening, reading, bowling, and flirting and dancing with pretty girls, although perhaps not in that order.
Growing up in Oregon/Toledo, Ohio, his passions were playing ball with friends and ice boating on Lake Erie.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosie; three brothers, infant John F. LaCourse and World War II veterans Bobby and Howard LaCourse; one sister, Patricia Karoly; one son, Thomas LaCourse Jr.; one stepson, John Banks; and one granddaughter, Theresa Maloney.
Tom is survived by one brother, Ted LaCourse; and two sisters, Phyllis Sayers and Geraldine Reynolds.
Full obit in the Peoria Journal Star - June 30, 2012.
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