David Leroy Thomas. Janury 5, 1938 - June 23, 2023

David Leroy Thomas and his twin brother were born on January 5, 1938 at KSB Hospital. David attended Dixon High School and played football and baseball, was first chair in the band and played in the Dixon Municipal Band. David attended the University of Illinois in Urban, Champaign (UICU) as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and with an ROTC scholarship, he received a General Engineering Degree. After college, he became an Ensign in the Navy for three years active-duty on the Charles R. Ware DD and seventeen in the Reserves. He retired as a Commander. He attended Law School at UIUC. Having graduated from Law School and while serving in the Law Dept. of the City of Peoria, IL, he became the Corporation  Councel. Dave and his judiciary staff represented the city with legal issues during the construction of the Medical School, the renovation of South Town Projects and the building of the Civic Center. He married Sue Speiser, a Parkland  Communiy  College Biology Instructor, in 1972 and they recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary June 17th, 2023. Dave was Director of Finance at the First Methodist Church in Peoria, IL and active with the Heart of Illinois Harvest Food Service for the homeless and poor. Their first child, Laura Kristine was born in 1974 and passed away at the age of 25 after her fourth open-heart surgery. she was married to Martin Vander Noodaa from Holland. Michael Scott Thomas born in 1976, lives in Bloomington, IL with his wife Katrisha and three sons, Ben age 14, Sam, age 11 and Max, age 8. In 2003, Dave and Sue moved to Sun Lakes, AZ. Dave was a Director on the Board of Pastor Richard Thomson's  Hope in Christ Church in Phoenix. Dave and Sue joined Compass Christian Church in Chandler, AZ, were active at the bridge ministry for Jr, high and high school students and were members of a small fellowship groups. Dave is remembered as a compassionate and helpful man, eager to donate his time and resources to help those in need within the community. He was a loving husband and Father who put the needs of his family before his own.  A celebration of Dave's life with military presence will be shared on Saturday, July 29th, 2023 at Park View Cemetry in Peoria, IL where his daughter is interred.