Thomas E. "Tom" Wilson

 
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. on Wednesday 28, 2025 at Freese Funeral Home, with

visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery in St. Joseph.

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

married Janet Rayburn on May 4, 1968.  Tom is survived by: daughters Sheri Bialecke of Ringgold, GA

and Stephanie (Tom) Franey of Champaign, IL; 6 grandchildren – Lindsey, Keagan and McKenna Bialecke, Elizabeth Beyers, J.T.

(Emily) and Mary Beth Franey; and 2 great grandchildren – Wren and Noah Beyers. Sister Judi Wilson of Champaign.

He is 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 1960’s. His interest in the sport continued through the

1980’s 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 that became life-long 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 U of I,

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 that would be life-

long friends. He was one of the founding members of what affectionately became known as the

Eastern Peters Drive Society, a group of neighbors that 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 memorials may be made to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Booster Club.

Freese FH 5/24/2025