Obituary: Tomlison

Posted on April 15, 2019
Franklin “Jack” Tomlison (Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)

FAIRBURY – Franklin “Jack” Tomlison, 84, Fairbury, died at 11:50 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2019 at Evenglow Inn, Pontiac.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury with Pastor Tom Krieger officiating.  Burial will be in Avoca Township Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.  The family suggests memorials be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury.

Jack was born November 10, 1934 in Ruth, Kentucky the son of William “Bill” Tomlison and Lucille Ledbetter Oliver.

Survivors include one son, Robert Tomlison, El Paso; two daughters, Debra Tomlison, Springfield, MO, Jacque Sweeney, Pontiac; four grandchildren, Erin (Nic) Mool, Nicole Ruhlander, Joshua Sweeney and Hannah (Matthew) Infinger; one half-brother, Phil Oliver, Punta Gorda, Fla.; two half-sisters, Shirley Oliver, Roseville, Cal. and Lynn Thorburn, Westmont.

Jack was a graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School.  He was a certified plumber retiring in 1997 and was a member of the Pipefitters Union and Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury.  He enjoyed playing cards especially Euchre, traveling and racing motorcycles with the AMA. 

A guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…