Thomas "Tom" M. Mills, 63, of Coffeen, died Monday, July 1, 2019, at 1:50 a.m. at his residence.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Toberman-Dean Funeral Home in Coffeen.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Hillsboro with Father Daniel Willenborg, pastor of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Hillsboro, officiating. Burial will be held in St. Agnes Cemetery in Hillsboro. Military rites will be accorded at graveside by VFW Post 1306 and American Legion Post 425. Family requests casual dress.
Mr. Mills was born Jan. 3, 1956, in Litchfield, the son of Leo and Anna Mae (Huff) Mills, and both survive in Shipman. He married Connie D. Stretch on July 17, 1976, in Hillsboro, and she survives in Coffeen.
A 1974 graduate of Southwestern High School in Piasa, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving at Chanute AFB in Rantoul and Hurlburt Field in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. He was a member of the Red Horse Squadron.
During his lifetime he lived in Jerseyville, Shipman, Alton, Florida, Taylor Springs, Hillsboro and Coffeen. He was a mechanic at Putnam Wright Automotive in Hillsboro for 19 years and recently retired as a mechanic from Roberts Ford Dealership in Alton after 19 years.
He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both in Hillsboro, the Coffeen Fire Department and Sertoma Club in Hillsboro. He enjoyed car racing, photography, motorcycle riding and spending time with his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by his children, Gina (husband Chuck) Currie of Coffeen and Lindsy (husband Dave) Vandergriff of Peoria; four grandchildren, Madison Currie, Kyleigh Currie and Mason Currie, and Phoebe Vandergriff; sisters, Julie (husband Lyle) Nilges of St. Louis, MO, Susan (husband Dennis) Strohbeck of Brighton and Laura Vaughan (significant other Chris) of Alton; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and mother-in-law, Janean Stretch.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father-in-law, Dale Stretch; and two brothers-in-law.
Memorials may be made to the Dale Stretch Vocational Education Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences may be left at www.basspattondeanfh.com.
