Thomas Edward Reiser

Thomas “Tom” Edward Reiser, 81, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Memorial Medical Center with family by his side. Tom was born in Springfield, Illinois, on October 15, 1942, to Leo and Alvena (nee Devlin) Reiser. He was raised in Ashland and Havana, Illinois. He graduated from Havana High School in 1960 and went on to attend the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, Tom met his wife of 54 years, Virginia “Ginny” Reiser. Ginny was a St Mary’s girl and the love of his life. While at Notre Dame, Tom built a Tandem bicycle that he and Ginny rode around both campuses. Tom graduated from the University of Notre Dame on June 7, 1964, with a degree in Finance. On August 8, 1964, Tom and Ginny married in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and settled into married life in a tiny house outside of Greenview, Illinois. Tom began working with his Dad in the family's grain elevator business in Greenview. Eventually, his brother Bob would join them. The office at Reiser Grain was always a friendly place to stop in to hear the market report, partake in frozen treats or candy, buy your Purina pet food, eat lunch, attend an occasional wine tasting, and hang out with the Reiser family. The Grain elevator was sold in 1991, and Tom began a new career with the Catholic Diocese of Springfield as the Property and Facilities Manager. While working in this capacity, he helped oversee the building of many new churches and additions to parishes throughout the Diocese, but he was proudest of the building of the Newman Center at Eastern Illinois University. Tom visited parishes throughout the central part of Illinois from Charleston to Alton and every small and large town in between. He knew the catholic churches in every community, the back roads and ”shortcuts” to travel between communities, and the best local places to eat. He was especially good at finding the best pie places in central Illinois. His pie hunting was so legendary that his co-workers developed a pie road trip adventure at his retirement that would take him across the country. Tom and Ginny raised 4 children in a house outside of Petersburg. He was the wrangler of the swimming pool that entertained his children every summer, he taught them to ride bikes, motorcycles, and lawnmowers. Tom was a solid handyman around the house fixing cars, dryers, plumbing, pinewood derby cars, and toys. He ensured ice cream was always in the freezer, jello blocks were made fresh daily, adventure was around every corner, and the TV antenna was tall enough to get all the TV stations. Tom always had an excellent camera and loved getting the newest electronics. He was a master of the grill. He was the driver on all family vacations and weekend adventures. Tom loved a road trip and drove from coast to coast; along the way, he was equally enthusiastic about a historical marker, battlefield, fort, mystery spot, lookout point, museum, amusement park, and local restaurant. He was everything a family could need, and his kids and grandkids embraced many of his passions. Tom was an active member of St Peter’s parish and the Knights of Columbus. He was also active in the Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois, serving in various capacities. Tom loved sharing his passion for the University of Notre Dame with all who would listen. He would take young local fans to the spring football game to experience a college campus and hoped they would begin to dream about possibilities. Tom was active in Boy Scouting for two decades, including 15 years as the Scoutmaster of Troop 54. He adventured with the scouts around Illinois and down to the Jacks Fork River to canoe every year. He was proud of all his scouts but incredibly proud of the 6 Eagle Scouts he nurtured along the scouting path. Tom’s favorite title was Grandpa. He loved bragging about and hanging out with his seven grandchildren. He enjoyed adventures to the Wisconsin Dells, Disney, Universal Studios, California, and Cape Cod with the grandkids. Tom loved to take with grandkids to Sheels, play a skins game of mini golf, find a swimming pool to play in, train shows, Lincoln sites, and explore all the children’s museums. He helped build tree forts and rocket launchers. Tom loved to share his Lionel trains and was happiest when running a train with a grandkid by his side. Tom enjoyed a crop drive that ended in eating at a local restaurant, a Maidrite, Notre Dame, naps with a Dog, black diamond watermelons, his recliner chair, Root Beer, a good steak, any form of pie, ice cream, studying a map or atlas, Theatre in the Park, farms and farmers, knots, basketball, babies, power tools, sweetcorn, visiting with family and friends, going to a movie, rewatching Gunsmoke, a Krekel’s hamburger, Petersburg, looking for cars, milkshakes, watching local high school sports, and hanging out with the grandkids. Tom lived a life full of kindness, service to others, and devotion to his family. He will be greatly missed. Tom is survived by his four children, David (Teresa) Reiser of Petersburg, John (Mary Flynn) Reiser of Dania Beach, Florida, Martha L. Reiser of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Paul (Missy) Reiser of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; Hannah, Eli, Maureen, Liam, Noah, Ian, Luke, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is survived by his siblings Rosemary (Mike) Stepner of San Diego, California, and Bob (Martha) Reiser of Petersburg. He is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, his parents, and a brother, William (Mary) Reiser. A Celebration of Life will be held by Tom’s family on Friday, July 26, 2024, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 711 S. 6th St, Petersburg, Illinois 62675, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at the church on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 10:00 am with a luncheon immediately following. A graveside service will follow at St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Ashland, Illinois, at 2:00 pm. Cremation rites were accorded by Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, designated to the SIU School of Medicine Alzheimer Projects, Menard County Food Pantry, or St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Petersburg.

Thomas Edward Reiser

October 15, 1942 - March 14, 2024

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