Thomas Stanley Tye

Thomas (Tom) Stanley Tye, age 74, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2020, following a courageous three-month battle with cancer. He was born March 17, 1946 in Berwyn, Illinois to Helen (Laski) and Frank Tye, and grew up in the southside suburbs of Chicago. He graduated high school and attended Jr College, studying accounting. He joined the US Air Force as an Airman on June 8,1966 and worked as a crew chief servicing C130s and cargo aircraft. He served almost 11 months overseas in the Philippines during the Vietnam War and was stationed out of Travis Air Force Base. He received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant on April 7, 1970.

Tom started his 34-year career with the phone company at Illinois Bell in 1970.

He was introduced to the love of his life and wife Jane (Biondolillo) by his friends Bud and Mary Zupancic. He married Jane on April 22, 1972. They lived in Blue Island, IL for a year before moving to her hometown of Pueblo, CO, where they decided to raise their family.

Upon moving to Colorado, he was able to transfer to Mountain Bell, and throughout his years at the telephone company, he held multiple titles including installer, repairman, lineman, dispatcher, information and toll operator and storeroom inventory manager. He not only performed these duties with pride and care but also trained others in most of those roles.

Tom retired from Qwest after he suffered a stroke in 2003, but his strength and determination to continue living his life with his wife and family brought him back from a 3-week coma. In addition to spending time with their grandchildren who affectionately named him “Papa”, he enjoyed working in his yard, and was able to travel on numerous vacations, enjoying their cruises and trips to casinos. Tom was an avid sports fanatic, enjoying NASCAR and almost any Chicago team.

Tom was a member of Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church since its inception in Pueblo and attended faithfully.

Tom and Jane lived in the first house they purchased for 45 years, and had lifelong special friendships with their neighbors, often gathering to visit on one of their front porches after work.

He was generous, selfless, and genuinely cared about everyone he met. He was always ready to visit and listen. He was an extremely grateful person and was always willing to lend a hand wherever needed.

Tom Tye was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Helen, and stepfather Oliver Barr. Tom is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jane; his brother James Barr of Three Rivers, MI; daughter Kimberly (Chad) Jeffries; son David (April) Tye; grandchildren Kayla (Ricky Trujillo), Alexis, and Ryan Timme, Haleigh Jeffries, Allison and Katelynn Tye; great-granddaughter Amelia, and numerous extended family members.

Services will be delayed until it is safe to gather for Mass and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the V foundation at www.v.org or other cancer research organization of your preference.