David LeRoy "Dave" Thomas

1938 - 2023

David LeRoy 'Dave' Thomas
Born: January 5, 1938
Died: June 23, 2023
David LeRoy "Dave" Thomas, 85, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, formerly of Peoria, passed away on Friday, June 23, 2023 at the Eternal Spring Assisted Living in Gilbert, Arizona. He and his twin brother, Richard Lynn Thomas were born on January 5, 1938 at KSB Dixon Hospital, sons of Omer LeRoy Thomas and Fae Pauline (Wiles) Thomas. Dave married Helen Sue Speiser, a Parkland Community College Biology Instructor, in 1972 and they recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on June 17th this year. She survives.
Dave is also survived by his son, Michael Scott (Katrisha) Thomas of Bloomington; three grandsons, Ben, Sam, and Max Thomas, all of Bloomington; and his son-in-law, Martyn vander Noordaa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter, Laura Kristine vander Noordaa.
At Dixon High School, Dave played football and baseball, he was First Chair Trumpet in the band and played in the Dixon Municipal Band. Dave attended the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign (UIUC) as a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and with an ROTC scholarship, he received a General Engineering Degree. After college, he became an Ensign in the United States Navy for three years active duty on the Charles R. Ware DD and 17 years in the reserves. He retired as a Commander.
He attended law school at UIUC. Having graduated from law school and while serving in the City of Peoria Legal Department, he became the Corporation Counsel. Dave and his judiciary staff represented the city with legal issues during the construction of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, the renovation of the Southtown Residential Project and the building of the Peoria Civic Center.
Dave was the Director of Finance at the First United Methodist Church in Peoria and active with the Heart of Illinois Harvest Food Service for the homeless and poor.
In 2003, Dave and Sue moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona. Dave was a director on the board of Pastor Richard Thomson's Hope in Christ Church in Phoenix. They joined Compass Christian Church in Chandler, Arizona and were active at the Bridge Ministry for junior and senior high school students and were also members of small fellowship groups.
Dave is remembered as a compassionate and helpful man, eager to donate his time and resources to help those in need within the community. He was a loving husband and father who put the needs of his family before his own.
Dave was a follower of Jesus Christ and knew Him personally as his LORD and Savior. He was confident that the perfect life Jesus lived qualified Him for the death He died to provide Salvation for all humanity so that the death He died qualified us for the perfect life He lived.
Dave's visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria, followed by his celebration of life service at 11:00 am. Burial will take place in Parkview Cemetery in Peoria with full military honors.
In honor of Dave's memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/donate/ or the Loaves and Fish Ministry care of First United Methodist Church Peoria at http://fumcpeoria.org/give.
Online condolences may be shared with Dave's family at www.Davison-Fulton.com.