Tom Wilson

ST. JOSEPH - Thomas E. "Tom" Wilson, 81, of St. Joseph passed away at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (May 22, 2025).

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Freese Funeral Home, with

visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph.

Tom was born Aug. 22, 1943, in Urbana, the son of Virgil and Marian (Weeks) Wilson. He

married Janet Rayburn on May 4, 1968. They had two daughters, Sheri and Stephanie.

Tom is survived by his daughters Sheri Bialecke of Ringgold, Ga., and Stephanie (Tom) Franey of Champaign; six grandchildren, Lindsey, Keagan and McKenna Bialecke, Elizabeth Beyers and J.T. (Emily) and Mary Beth Franey; two great-grandchildren, Wren and Noah Beyers; and one sister, Judi Wilson of Champaign.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Kenn Bialecke, grandson Kameron Bialecke and

grandson-in-law, Bailey Beyers.

After graduating from Champaign High School in 1961, Tom began working at Clifford-Jacobs Forging and joined the Illinois National Guard. During his high school years, he was enthralled with mechanical devices and engines, and he quickly directed his interests into building and driving dragsters. He, along with many of his high school friends, built dragsters that were competitive on a national scale in the 1960s. His interest in the sport continued through the 1980s, when he was involved with other friends and their dragsters.

After becoming an accomplished machinist at Clifford-Jacobs, Tom joined Hansvedt in 1972. He was recognized as one of the best machinists in the company and was an excellent teacher to others. He was promoted to shop manager in 1980. While he thoroughly enjoyed his work at Hansvedt, more importantly, he met many co-workers who became lifelong friends that he frequently associated with and traveled with outside of the work environment.

After Hansvedt was sold, Tom joined the University of Illinois in 2002 as an instrument maker, working in the Noyes Laboratory building. He enjoyed making instruments for chemical engineering professors and students for their experiments. He also taught classes on how to use tool and die equipment. Although he reached retirement age in 2008, he continued working for several years because he enjoyed teaching students. Just before retirement from the UI, one of his favorite special projects was to re-make new clock parts for the clock tower on the

Illini Union because replacement parts could not be found.

Tom built his home on Peters Drive in St. Joe in 1973 with the help of close friends with experience in various trades. Once again, he became surrounded with people who would be lifelong friends. He was one of the founding members of what affectionately became known as the Eastern Peters Drive Society, a group of neighbors who lived on Peters Drive. On most any Friday night, the group can be found in a member's garage solving the world's problems and discussing national and local sporting events.

His greatest joy in life came from the success and company of his girls and their families.

In lieu of flowers, memorilas may be made to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Booster Club. Condolences may be made at freesefh.com.