John Thomas
After a brave four-year battle with cancer, beloved husband, father, and “brother”, John Henry Thomas, 48, of Bloomington was called to Heaven at 8:58 a.m. on Sat., October 21, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.
A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomington with Rev. Vaughn Hoffman officiating. Many stories will be shared at this time. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to one of these three areas: Heartland Bank in C/O Tina Thomas for an educational fund for the Thomas children, Carlock Fire Department, Wesley United Methodist Church.
On March 30, 1969 the baseball tradition continued in Streator when John Robert “Bob” and Virginia “Sissy” Copeland Thomas gave birth to John, another die-hard Cubs fan. He married Tina Louise Booth on Aug. 6, 1994 in Bloomington, despite the fact that she WAS a Cardinals fan. She survives.
He is also survived by three children, Taylor Louise Thomas (18), Clayton Henry Thomas (16), and Corinna Jane Thomas (11); a sister, Darlene Morris of El Paso, a brother, Robert “Bob” (Alyshia) Thomas of Atlanta; his mother-in-law, Mary-Jane (Richard) Tschee of Jacksonville and his step mother-in-law, Arlyn Booth of Marengo; two sisters-in-law Patricia Mae Booth Hodges (Marty) and Rashell Jane Booth; two cousins Bill (Julie) Copeland and Denise (Bob) Lapore; a stepbrother, Rick (Sarah) Tschee and a stepsister, Lisa Tschee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Ralph Booth and his brother-in-law, Greg Morris.
John was a 1987 graduate of Streater Township High School and received his Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Illinois Community College in 2005. He began his life of service in 1988 working for the Carlock, Fire Protection District, then joined the Bloomington Fire Department in 1995, last working as an Engineer in 2012. He continued to serve for the remainder of his life as a firefighter liaison for MetCom. He touched many lives and his life could be summed up as follows: There was a hero walking among us. He put on a brave face in parenthood, fighting fires, having a strong faith and fighting cancer.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
