Thomas E. Rost

He was born in Racine, WI on July 1, 1926 to Rodger and Mary (Rudin) Rost. On July 5, 1952, he married Melanie Hughes in Flossmore, IL.

He graduated from Thornton Township High School and went on to study at Kings Point Naval Academy, serving as a Merchant Marine in WWII. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and worked as an engineer for Rockwell International. He was a member of the Professional Engineer’s Society of Illinois and the Kingsport Alumni Association.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Melanie; his daughters, Eileen (Larry) Southard and Rachel (David) Person; his son-in-law, Walter Suman; his grandchildren, Allen, Benjamin, Amanda, Lyla, and Thomas Suman, David and Jonathan Southard, Scott and Melissa Person; and his great-grandchildren, Melanie Higgins, Summer Le Favre, Drake Cortez, Ethan and Sophia Suman, Ava Rose Weatherford, Caley Suman.

He was preceded in death by his parents Rodger and Mary Rost, his brother Rodger Rost, and his daughter Rosalynn Suman.

A memorial service will be announced at a later time. For more information, please call the funeral home at (815)459-1760. Online condolences may be expressed at www.querhammerandflagg.com.