Thomas D. Bennett

Thomas D. Bennett, 86, of Tuscola, died on March 23, 2026 at 11:50 a.m., at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. 

Tom was born November 16, 1939 in Centralia, Illinois to Maxwell A. Bennett and Doris E. (Carpenter) Bennett. He moved with his parents to Rantoul, where he was raised, and graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 1957. He then attended the University of Illinois for two years. He joined the United States Army in 1960 and served for three years with the Army Security Agency in West Germany. Tom graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1966. He joined State Farm Insurance Companies in 1967 as a claim representative in Peoria, later moving to Tuscola in 1973 and becoming a State Farm agent. He retired in 1997. Thereafter, he enjoyed working as a bailiff at the Douglas County courthouse for several years.

Tom married Beverly E. Whitcher in Paris, Illinois on August 19, 1967. She died on March 7, 2021, after 53 years of marriage. They enjoyed spending time with family and traveling around the United States and Canada in retirement. He was a member of Tuscola United Methodist Church and sang in its choir. He enjoyed singing and performing with local bluegrass group Strings Attached. Tom enjoyed model railroading, reading books of all kinds, politics, history, big band music, learning about his Christian faith, watching The Chosen with his special friend Carol Beals, and above all, his family and friends.

Surviving are his daughter Jennifer (the late Timothy) Bender of Villa Grove, his son Robert (Cathleen) of Washington, IL, and his daughter Sarah Bennett (Suzi Vilkman) of Tampere, Finland; four grandchildren: Megan (Jordan) Kreie of Indianapolis, Samuel Bender of Villa Grove, Olivia Bennett (Welby Matthews) of Bloomington, and Andrew Bennett of Washington, IL; and his special friend Carol Beals of Tuscola.

Visitation will be on Good Friday, April 3, 2026 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola.

Services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Tuscola United Methodist Church, 901 North Prairie Street, Tuscola. Interment and private graveside services will be held immediately following at Tuscola Township Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Tuscola United Methodist Church and the church's music ministries.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com