Thomas Newton Bohannen (92) of Cissna Park

Thomas Newton Bohannen, 92, of Cissna Park passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Thomas was born on January 18, 1931, in Granite City, Illinois, the son of Russell N. and Lorene (Hanson) Bohannen. They preceded him in death along with his sister, Joyce Swick.

Thomas married Connie Dumaran in Chicago on December 23, 1978, and she survives. Besides his wife, Connie Bohannen of Cissna Park, he is survived by one daughter, Beth Anne (Tim) Biggs of Ballwin, MO; two sons, Jonathan (Sarah) Bohannen of Mahomet, and Jeffrey Bohannen of Chicago; six grandchildren, Kiley (Ryan) Rawson, Nathan (Lisa) Bergbower, Shelton (Shelby) Biggs, Sydney, Lillian, and Everett Bohannen; six great-grandchildren, Jagger, Maddux, and Noxx Bergbower, Savannah and Luke Rawson, and Levi Biggs; and numerous nieces and nephews for which he is affectionately known as Uncle “Buck” or Uncle “Tom”.

Tom graduated from Newton High School in 1949, and shortly after was employed at Borg-Warner, Norge Div. in Effingham, as a Punch Press Operator. In 1951, he was enlisted in the United States Army - 6th Armored Division Trains, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He later served in the Korean War as a Combat Engineer in Alaska and was honorably discharged in 1954.

Tom subsequently moved to Chicago and had a progressive and successful career in the tool and die manufacturing industry. In his early professional career, his was a tool and die operator at Witt-Mor Specialties, and through hard work and dedication to his craft, purchased his place of employment and became the President and CEO of Kut-Rite Tool Company until his retirement 1994. Following retirement, Tom and his family moved to Kellart Lake in Cissna Park, Illinois, where he enjoyed gardening on his many acres, tending to his Asian pear tree orchard, tinkering, and taking things apart, (and seldomly managing to get things back together), lawn mowing, driving around on his many tractors, listening to old country music on his 8-track, fishing, trying out new and exotic foods, entertaining family, and friends, raising his Muscovy ducks, spending time with his children, grandchildren and raising his many cats and dogs. He is well known to the area as an avid gardener, and he could often be seen tending to his many vegetable gardens and fruit tree orchards from sunrise to sunset. His influence in the area will be missed and one that will never be forgotten.

Tom was a proud brother of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and was proclaimed a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, 32 degree, a caring husband, a devoted father, friend, and provider to many.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 PM on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at the Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Illinois. There will also be visitation 10:00-11:00 AM - Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. A service honoring Tom's life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Rick Britton officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Bailey Cemetery in Latona, Illinois, with military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Bible Church at Kellart Lake or The American Legion in Cissna Park, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left by clicking here.