Tom was born March 8, 1935, in Rockford, IL to Gunnar A. and Alice (Layng) Cordell. He married his sweetheart and best friend RoJean Slote on March 5, 1960 in Hastings, NE
Tom graduated from West High School, Rockford, IL class of 1953. He received his Associates Degree in Management at the City College of Chicago. Tom served 23 years in the US Army Airborne and US Air Force. Following military service, he worked 23 years for Ingersoll Milling Machine Company as a machine designer. He retired, but continued to work for Rockton Bus & Coach USA as a bus driver.
Tom was a life member of Scottish Rite Freeport Consistory, Roscoe Masonic Lodge, Vietnam Veterans, VFW, American Legion, 11th ABN Division Association, The Enlisted Association, and NRA. He was also a member of Rockton United Methodist Church, Fairfield First United Methodist Church and Gideons International.
During Tom and RoJean’s 58 years of marriage they loved to travel the US and spent many happy trails, either in their motorhome or van visiting family and friends between the coasts.
They loved spending the winter in the valley of Texas over the last 16 years with good friends. Tom had the magical ability to connect with everyone he came into contact with. His Christmas card list was long and the list of his friends was even longer.
Tom will be greatly missed by his wife, RoJean of Fairfield; 4 daughters, Michele (Steve) Blayney of Grand Island, NE, Sheri (Brian) Zimmer of Roscoe, IL, Lori (John) Stever of Fairfield, IA and Tiffany (Ken) Springer of Galesburg, IL; 8 grandchildren, Sarah Kramp, Jeffrey Blayney, Emily Rush, Jenessa Fiduccia, Cassandra Zimmer, Brooke, Gavin, and Drew Stever; two sisters, Nancy (Wally) Dreger of Dawsonville, GA, Marilyn (Ed) Dreger of Machesney Park, IL, sister in law Marlette Anderson of Loves Park, IL, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gunnar Anderson and Alice Cordell; and one brother, Robert Anderson.
Visitation for family & friends will be 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Friday, December 14, 2018, at Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park, IL.
Funeral service will be 10:00 am, Saturday, December 15, 2018, at Sunset Funeral Home with Mark Maxted officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens following the service.
In Fairfield, a celebration of life gathering for family and friends will be 6:00 pm-8:00 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Vets Roll or Gideons International. Cards and memorials can be sent to: 1304 South D Street, Fairfield, IA 52556
Online condolences may be made to the family at dignitymemorial.com or behnerfh.com.
