Obituaries
Obituary for Thomas Eugene Fleming
PEORIA – Thomas Eugene Fleming, 79, of Peoria passed away at 12:23 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.
Thomas was born on March 5, 1937, in Bloomington to the late Joseph and Nana (Doty) Fleming. He married Patricia A. Owens in 1957. She survives.
He is also survived by two daughters, Lori (Stan) Collins of Peoria Heights and Leslie (Thomas “Tucker” III) Kennedy of Peoria; two grandchildren, Alexandria (Nicholas) Lavin and Tate Kennedy; three great-grandchildren, Vivienne, Charlotte, and Declan; two brothers, Joseph (Grace) Fleming of Bartonville and Jack (Betty) Fleming of Morton; one nephew, Brian (Carla) Fleming; five nieces, Kathy (Dennis) Yeske, Cindy Fleming, Nancy (Kirk) Vollmer, Karen (Edward) Etherton, and Diane (Jay) Holloman; nine great-nieces and nephews, Brock, Dawn, Jaymie, Jessica, Jared, Kristen, Cassidy, Josh, Tricia, Carissa, Monica, and Erica; and “granddaughter,” Angela Bickett.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James "Bill" Fleming; four nephews, David, Brad, Brent, and Brandon; niece, Paula Moews; and great-nephew, Brent Corey.
Thomas graduated from Manual Training High School in 1955 and served in the United States Army until he was honorably discharged in 1958. He later graduated from Devry Institute of Technology and became an apprentice electrician, working at Hiram Walker, Keystone Steel and Wire, and Zaborac Electric. He founded Fleming Electric Inc., which he owned and managed for 42 years.
He was past governor of the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and was considered an expert in large scale design/build electrical estimating. He also provided counsel to other aspiring electrical contractors and entrepreneurs to help them start their businesses.
Thomas was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights and a generous philanthropist who endowed scholarships for engineering students at Bradley University, while also providing financial support to the Children's Hospital of Illinois and many non-profit organizations.
He was a skilled tradesman who lent his construction, electrical and engineering talents to assist in countless residential and church renovations. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan and a long-time season ticket holder for Bradley University basketball.
A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. April 9, 2016, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Father Thomas Eugene Taylor will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2016, at St. Thomas Church. An additional visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the Mass at the church. Cremation rights have been accorded and burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, OSF Foundation, or the Wounded Warriors project.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
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Thomas was born on March 5, 1937, in Bloomington to the late Joseph and Nana (Doty) Fleming. He married Patricia A. Owens in 1957. She survives.
He is also survived by two daughters, Lori (Stan) Collins of Peoria Heights and Leslie (Thomas “Tucker” III) Kennedy of Peoria; two grandchildren, Alexandria (Nicholas) Lavin and Tate Kennedy; three great-grandchildren, Vivienne, Charlotte, and Declan; two brothers, Joseph (Grace) Fleming of Bartonville and Jack (Betty) Fleming of Morton; one nephew, Brian (Carla) Fleming; five nieces, Kathy (Dennis) Yeske, Cindy Fleming, Nancy (Kirk) Vollmer, Karen (Edward) Etherton, and Diane (Jay) Holloman; nine great-nieces and nephews, Brock, Dawn, Jaymie, Jessica, Jared, Kristen, Cassidy, Josh, Tricia, Carissa, Monica, and Erica; and “granddaughter,” Angela Bickett.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James "Bill" Fleming; four nephews, David, Brad, Brent, and Brandon; niece, Paula Moews; and great-nephew, Brent Corey.
Thomas graduated from Manual Training High School in 1955 and served in the United States Army until he was honorably discharged in 1958. He later graduated from Devry Institute of Technology and became an apprentice electrician, working at Hiram Walker, Keystone Steel and Wire, and Zaborac Electric. He founded Fleming Electric Inc., which he owned and managed for 42 years.
He was past governor of the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and was considered an expert in large scale design/build electrical estimating. He also provided counsel to other aspiring electrical contractors and entrepreneurs to help them start their businesses.
Thomas was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights and a generous philanthropist who endowed scholarships for engineering students at Bradley University, while also providing financial support to the Children's Hospital of Illinois and many non-profit organizations.
He was a skilled tradesman who lent his construction, electrical and engineering talents to assist in countless residential and church renovations. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan and a long-time season ticket holder for Bradley University basketball.
A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. April 9, 2016, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Father Thomas Eugene Taylor will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2016, at St. Thomas Church. An additional visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the Mass at the church. Cremation rights have been accorded and burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, OSF Foundation, or the Wounded Warriors project.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
8
Apr
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
St. Thomas Catholic Church
904 E Lake Ave
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Memorial Mass
Saturday
9
Apr
10:00 AM
St. Thomas Catholic Church
904 E Lake Ave
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Visitation 30 minutes prior
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery
7519 N. Allen Road
Peoria, IL 61614
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