Thomas William Holmes, 73, of rural Jacksonville, IL, died February 25, 2024, at home surrounded by his family after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

He was born June 22, 1950, in Jacksonville, the son of Thomas Marshall and Mary Lou (Fortado) Holmes. He married Irma Tipsword on February 1, 1968, in Tijuana, Mexico, and she survives.

He is also survived by three daughters, Diana (Yancey) Tone of Smyrna, TN, Dixie (Adam) Freehill of Springfield, and Cathy (Brian) Hansell of Chapin; and seven grandchildren, Nick (Ashley) Tone and Andrew Tone, all of Tennessee, Allison (Nolan) Ruthe of Minnesota, Hannah Freehill of Tennessee, Cassidy Freehill of Springfield, Ryker Hansell and Amelia Hansell, both of Chapin, and his father, Thomas Marshall (Mildred) Holmes of Jacksonville. He was preceded in death by his mother.

Tom attended Alhambra High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he wrestled on their state championship team. While living out west, he discovered a love of the mountains and aspired to become a geologist. His family then moved back to Illinois and that changed the trajectory of his life. He graduated from Jacksonville High School where he met the love of his life. The love-struck teenagers eloped to Tijuana, spent some time in Phoenix, and then settled back in Jacksonville to raise their family. Tom and Irma recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

Tom held a variety of jobs in his life before opening his own business. His first job was working at a horse stable in Phoenix. He was a submerged arch welder for Commercial Steel Fabricators, a farmhand for Roy Lair and others, a paralegal for Flynn & Flynn Attorneys, a concrete worker for Hazel Construction, a hot asphalt roofer, a land surveyor for Casler, Houser & Hutchison, and a field engineer for Dunbar & Sullivan and was instrumental in building the levees in Meredosia. He then opened the Military Surplus Outlet in South Jacksonville in 1985, operating it for 37 years. His store was not only a place of business, but a gathering place for many to chat and solve the world's problems. He was also a past president of the South Jacksonville Business Association.

While Tom worked hard, he also played hard. In his younger days, he participated in handcar races, even holding the world record overnight, and won multiple arm wrestling and pool tournaments. He built his own monster truck and participated in many "mud runs." He would never turn down a good card game. Tom was an outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, archery, and shooting. His love of the outdoors grew from time spent growing up with his uncles, John DeFrates of Jacksonville and Ernie Jones of Phoenix, AZ.

Tom was a wise man who took nothing at face value and instead researched and studied to better understand the world and discern the truth. He loved to share his thoughts and educate those around him. He had a strong faith that only grew stronger through his questioning and study, including the Hebrew language. He was baptized at the Northminster Presbyterian Church. In his later years, his church was on his tractor where he had many conversations with God.

He loved his family fiercely as a devoted husband, a protective dad, and the best papa ever. He knew how to laugh and have a good time, and especially loved a good prank. He was so creative and an extremely talented artist in a variety of mediums: drawing, painting, and most recently twisting wire into beautiful trees and welding metal to create amazing works of art. The man who left home to marry and start a family at a young age built a legacy of love, honor, and respect. He was especially proud of his whole family. He was and always will be our hero.

A funeral service will be held 12 PM Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends from 10 AM – 12 PM prior to the service. A burial at Arcadia Cemetery will follow the service. Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left online at buchanancody.com.