Edward Fredrick Thommen

Edward “Butch” Thommen, Jr. passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016 at the age of 93. Born and raised in Roanoke, Illinois where he spent his childhood hunting, fooling around on the jumbo and playing sports.

Ed attended Eureka College and enlisted in the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor. His enlistment was deferred so he could continue his education. Called up in 1943 Ed attended boot camp and combat training with the “41st” Division. Just prior to deployment for D Day, as the tip of the spear, Ed was called out of his Division and assigned to officer training school. He arrived in Europe in 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant and finished his wartime service as a Captain.

While stationed in New York City he met the love of his life Elsie Blume, after a whirlwind four week romance they were married, shortly thereafter he sailed for Europe. Ed was billeted in Paris and was one of the first support companies to cross the Ramagen Bridge.

After the war, Ed finished his undergraduate degree at Eureka College where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He then received his Masters in Education at NYU.

Ed returned to Central Illinois to teach math, science and to coach. He coached Hopedale Community High School to a state basketball championship. He left public education and embarked on a career in corporate education and development, working in Chicago, Charlotte, New York and Indianapolis.

Ed and Elsie desired to share the love they had so they adopted two children, Terry and Tammi.

Ed retired in 1985 to Calabash, North Carolina. where he continued to pursue his lifelong love of golf. He and Elsie always looked forward to hosting their three grandchildren, Dillon, Liam and Aidan at the beach.

After 56 years of marriage to Elsie she passed in 2000, and Terry in 2005. Ed moved to Illinois in 2006 to be close to his daughter Tammi O’Dea, special son-in-law Brian O’Dea and grandchildren.

Ed loved people and always had a very positive outlook on life. He found joy in human relationships, never down or self pitting, he always said, “all you can do is the best you can with what you’ve got.” Always the coach and manager, Ed was always leading and motivating. He has taught us all about attitude and aging and it was a great pleasure to have him in our lives.

He is survived by sister Harriet Arndt, brother Roy and sister-in-law Annalee and many nieces and nephews and dear friends. Preceded in death by brother Clyde, sister-in-law MaryRae and brother-in-law Bill Arndt.

Private services will be held in N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The love that he gave and received from Meals on Wheels of DuPage volunteers was amazing, memorial contributions may be made to www.dupageseniorcouncil.org. Arrangements entrusted to Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, for information call (630) 964-9392.