More detail on this person: Marion, IL-Thomas W. Hestand, 69, passed away at 4:55pm on
Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, KY. Thomas was born on November
2, 1944 in Atlanta, GA to Wayne and Afton (Croslin) Hestand.
Tom enjoyed a lifetime of achievement filled with family and friends. He attended Kemper Military
Academy, graduating from Marion High School in 1962, SIU Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in
Government (1974) and a Master of Science in Education (1975). His college summers were spent as a
firefighter and in trail maintenance at Yosemite National Park. His military career spanned
twenty-one years, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 as a helicopter pilot for the US
Army. He served in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company with his first mission in Vietnam in December
1968. He left active duty in March 1971 and retired from the Army Reserve 281st Assault Helicopter
Company in 1989. He was also a certified hot air balloon pilot. Tom was appointed by the Governor as
a member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board in April 1982 serving three consecutive
two year terms.
After completing his education, he co-owned Hestand Insurance Agency with his parents. He pursued
further business in agriculture, transportation and construction forming Medline Construction
Company in Carbondale. His love of outdoor activities, which included hunting, shooting, western
horses, boating, fishing and golf was passed along and enjoyed with his two sons.
Survivors include: Sons: Tyler Hestand and wife Mandy of Goreville, IL; Clinton Hestand and wife
Dannielle of Creal Springs, IL;Longtime companion: Charlotte Cash of Marion, IL; Grandchildren:
Hailey and Caden Hestand; Sister: Nancy Baron; Close Cousin: Colleen Bogard; Maternal Uncle:
Kenneth Gray
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services were held on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 12pm at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion with
Rev. Eddie Donnelson officiating. Military rites were performed by the VFW and American Legion Posts
with assistance from the Illinois National Guard. Visitation was held on Tuesday from 10am until
12pm at Blue Funeral Home in Marion.
Memorial donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at Blue
Funeral Home, 1704 N. Court St, Marion, IL 62959. For more information or to sign the memorial
guest register, please visit www.bluefuneralhome.com
Thomas Hestand
MARION -- Thomas W. Hestand, 69, passed away at 4:55 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2014, in Western
Baptist Hospital in Paducah.
Thomas was born Nov. 2, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Wayne and Afton (Croslin) Hestand.
Tom enjoyed a lifetime of achievement filled with family and friends. He attended Kemper Military
Academy, graduating from Marion High School in 1962, SIU Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in
Government (1974) and a Master of Science in Education (1975). His college summers were spent as a
firefighter and in trail maintenance at Yosemite National Park.
His military career spanned 21 years, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 as a helicopter
pilot for the U.S. Army. He served in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company with his first mission in
Vietnam in December 1968. He left active duty in March 1971 and retired from the Army Reserve 281st
Assault Helicopter Company in 1989.
He was also a certified hot air balloon pilot. Tom was appointed by the Governor as a member of the
Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board in April 1982 serving three consecutive two year terms.
After completing his education, he co-owned Hestand Insurance Agency with his parents. He pursued
further business in agriculture, transportation and construction forming Medline Construction
Company in Carbondale. His love of outdoor activities, which included hunting, shooting, western
horses, boating, fishing and golf was passed along and enjoyed with his two sons.
Survivors include sons,Tyler Hestand and wife, Mandy, of Goreville,Clinton Hestand and wife,
Dannielle, of Creal Springs; longtime companion, Charlotte Cash of Marion; grandchildren, Hailey and
Caden Hestand; sister, Nancy Baron; close cousin, Colleen Bogard; and maternal uncle, Kenneth Gray.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services will be at noon Tuesday, July 1, in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, with the Rev. Eddie
Donnelson officiating. Military rites will be performed by the VFW and American Legion Posts with
assistance from the Illinois National Guard. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Blue
Funeral Home in Marion.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at Blue Funeral Home,
1704 N. Court St., Marion, IL 62959.
Burial information: Rose Hill Cemetery, Marion
This information was last updated 09/07/2018
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 10/11/2026
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