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
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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