Thomas P. Liston Sr.

He was born Sept 12, 1918 in Chicago, IL to Thomas A. and Katherine (Sweeney) Liston. He graduated in 1940 from Notre Dame with a business degree. While at the university he played right end on the Fighting Irish football team. After graduation, at age 21, he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, the youngest member in the board’s history at that time.

Tom lived life as a leader as was evidenced by his service as a P-47 pilot, he commanded the 377th Fighter Squadron during WW II, flying 86 missions, including the first strike on Berlin. Leaving the Air Force as a Major, his honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Africa Star, and the European Theater Ribbon with Five Battle stars. He participated in annual reunions with other squadron members and he established two memorials in England honoring squadron members whom, as he would say, “didn’t get the round trip ticket.”

He married Margaret Murnane in Chicago following his return from the war. She preceded him in death on December 5, 1974 in Peoria at age 53. He then married Ruth Ziltz in 1978 in Peoria.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth Liston, of Peoria Heights; his children, Mary Kay Champagne of North Carolina, Thomas P “Patrick” Liston Jr, and Margaret Ann “Maggie” (Tucker) Szold, both of Peoria; Ruth’s children, David (Patricia) Ziltz of Aurora, Illinois and Peter (Hannah) Ziltz of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Tara (Szold) Cummings, Grant Szold, Madison Liston, Thomas Liston III, Taylor, Ari and Zoe Ziltz; three great grandchildren, Karson, Kennedy and Jayla; and his sister, Mary Whiston of Northbrook, Illinois.

Also preceding in death was his sister, Kay Gibbons.

His retail career following the war started as a Montgomery Ward trainee and he rose quickly. At Mandel Brothers in Chicago, he became store superintendent at age 31. He was named general superintendent of Bloomingdales in New York in 1950, then ascending to top department store management positions in Chicago and New York until being named president of Bergner’s Department Store in 1959 at age 40.

At Bergners in Peoria, he oversaw the significant growth of stores and outlets across Illinois and Wisconsin, managing with a passion for excellence and employee recognition. He retired from Bergner’s as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 1983 after spending 25 years at its helm.

Tom and Ruth traveled worldwide. With a passion for style and hospitality, they created homes with Peoria designer David Haase in Vail, Colorado; Osprey, Florida; and Brevard, North Carolina, while always calling Peoria home.

Tom was an avid skier and didn’t take up the sport until he was 50 years old. He became an accomplished downhill racer participating in NASTAR events in Vail, where he won many medals including Silver and Gold.

Memorial visitation will be 5:00-7:00 pm Friday, April 15th at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, 2408 West Willow Knolls Rd, Peoria.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, April 16th at Resurrection Mausoleum in Peoria with Father Thomas Henseler officiating. Military funeral honors will be presented by the US Air Force and American Legion Post #2 of Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Jude- Midwest Affiliate or the Disabled American Veterans.