Tom Wraight

MORTON – Thomas E. Wraight, 82, of Morton, passed away Saturday, December 7, 2024, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born on January 9, 1942, in Greenville, Ohio, to Earl Thomas and Julia Kathryn (Martin) Wraight. Surviving are his sister, Carol Lindstrom (Ken) Aupperle of Morton; nephews, Mark Reecy of Cuba, Ill., Matthew Reecy of Morton and David Black of Bloomfield, Colo.; great-nephews and nieces, Kaleb Reecy, Ben Black, Katelyn Rademaker, Brittney R. Thomas, Cali Reecy, Brooke Reecy and Haley Black; great-great nieces, Lilly Pearson, Addie Rademaker and Nellie Thomas and great-great nephew, Blake Pearson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Black and brother, Robert Wraight. Tom was stricken with tetanus at the age of eight. He was one of the first to survive, even though he had a stroke that left him with full memory loss and complete paralysis when he was brought home form Children's Hospital in Chicago. The state provided a teacher and with her help and the family's constant care, he graduated from Kewanee High School, only one year behind his class. He was a member of the Kewanee High School Band and Marching Band, having played the trombone all four years. He loved music! Tom retired after working for 30 years for the state of Illinois. He first worked at East Moline Home and then Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria. On occasion, Tom would babysit for his sister. He loved his family including in-laws, nieces and nephews and on down the line, birds, music, trips and travel. Tom would travel with his parents until his father passed. After his father's passing, Tom and his mother continued to travel together and he also enjoyed bus tours. He later got into TOPS. He was obsessed with trains and short-wave radios. Tom loved all the family get togethers, birthday parties and holidays. He was always happy to take home a plate or two of food. Tom tried various local churches and settled on Cross Connections at Morton Methodist Church. He spent the last five years at Riverside and then Cornerstone in Peoria and East Peoria. A private graveside service will be held Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Cross Connections. Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.knappjohnson.com.