James William Tomlinson

James William "Jim" Tomlinson, 92, of Macon, IL, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.
Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Jim's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 30, 2014) at Holy Family Catholic Church. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday (Sept. 29, 2014) at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Macon. A Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday preceding the visitation. Jim will be laid to rest next to his wife Margaret in South Macon Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Holy Family Elementary School, 2400 S. Franklin St. Decatur, IL 62521 or Illinois Veterans Home, 1707 N. 12th Street, Quincy, IL 62301.
Jim was born on October 3, 1921, the son of John B. and Margaret (Dunn) Tomlinson. He was one of 14 children raised on a farm outside Macon. He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Arlene Crowe on July 17, 1943 and enjoyed 66 years of marriage before her death on September 22, 2009. Jim served in the US Army in WWII in the Philippines, and the Allied Occupation Forces in Hiroshima and Tokyo Japan. After the war, he returned home, worked on the family farm and at A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. He worked at Tomlinson Furniture for his brother Merph, eventually purchasing the business with his son Dale, retiring in 1997 after 35 years.
He leaves behind his children: Pat (Roger) Beals of Long Creek, Dale (Vera) Tomlinson of Macon, Janet (Bill) Singer of Bonners Ferry, ID, Joe Tomlinson of Leesburg, FL, and Lyle (Kim) Tomlinson of Rochester Hills, MI, daughter-in-law: Cher Tomlinson of Adolphus, KY; sixteen grandchildren, was "Grandpa Great" to eighteen great grandchildren; sister: Lois "Boo" Falconer of Vista, CA; brother: Lloyd (Lody) Tomlinson of Orland Park, IL; sisters-in-law: Letha Tomlinson of Macon, Verla Tomlinson of Shelbyville, Jo Crowe of Stockton, CA and Dorothy Lunte of Seymour, IN. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including much appreciated neighbors, Charlie & Kelly Jesse. Besides his wife he was preceded in death by his son; Jack Tomlinson, his parents, 5 brothers, and 6 sisters.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy IL for the care given to Dad. The loving care given to him during his stay was comforting to the family.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.