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Thomas Ward
January 30, 1947 — February 6, 2025
Peoria, IL formerly of Chatfield
- Thomas William Ward, 78, of Peoria Illinois, passed away after a courageous 22-year battle with
- cancer on February 6, 2025.
- Tom was born January 30, 1947, in Rochester, Minnesota to Max
- W. and Marie Stevens Ward. Growing up on a farm outside Chatfield, Minnesota, Tom showed
- Hereford cattle through his participation in the Elmira Xcel 4H Club for many years.
- Tom graduated with his BA from Winona State University and his MSW from the Jane Addams
- School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign campus. Tom began his
- career with Catholic Charities at the Lamberton Children’s Home in Winona Minnesota. In
- 1978, he began working for Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as the field
- service manager, Peoria Regional Administrator, a manager in Quality Assurance. After retiring
- from DCFS in 2002, Tom worked with Quality Consulting Group LLC in many states throughout
- the US, assuring improved systems and processes were in place for child welfare. Tom also
- was an Adjunct Instructor for the Jane Addams School of Social Work at UIUC. He and his
- wife, Mary, were volunteers for CASA in the 10 th Judicial Circuit of Illinois.
- Tom loved to travel with Mary and his family, as well as his loyal labradors Roscoe and Maggie.
- He was an enthusiastic fan of the Illini (I-L-L!), and loved watching the Chicago Cubs, especially
- Spring Training in Mesa, Arizona. His greatest joy was raising his family of 5 children and
- embraced the chaos that ensued over the years. He was most proud of his 10 grandchildren
- and cherished spending time with and watching them grow and thrive.
- He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary; children: Jennifer (Mark) Nolan, Andrew (Jessica)
- Ward, Timothy (Laura) Ward; Kathleen Ward; & Elizabeth (Kristopher) Jones; beloved
- grandchildren: Zachery, Carson, Natalie, James, Lilliana, Lucius, Felix, Liam, Malachi & Isla;
- very special nieces: Maureen Chromy Nichols & Caroline Chromy Gort; and numerous cousins.
- Tom was predeceased by his parents Max & Marie and his sister Patricia Ward Chromy.
- Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic
- Church in Chatfield with Father Edward McGrath officiating.
- Visitation will be held at the Hoff Funeral Home on Sunday, February 16, 2025 from 4-7 p.m.
- and again at the church on Monday from 10-11 a.m.
- In Lieu of flowers, the family would prefer a donation in Tom’s memory to the following:
- The Dream Center Peoria https://donate.dreamcenter.org
- OSF Hospice: Checks made out to OSF Hospice (List Tom Ward in Memo Section)
- Mail to: OSF Hospice
- 2265 W Altorfer Dr.
- Peoria IL 61615
- Illinois Cancer Center Foundation https://illinoiscancercarefoundation.org/donate/
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, February 16, 2025
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Hoff Funeral Home Chatfield
Visitation
Monday, February 17, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 am
St Mary Catholic Church
Funeral Service
Monday, February 17, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
St Mary Catholic Church
Guestbook
Visits: 1886
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