Thomas "Tom" Frederick Dennison

Thomas (“Tom”) Frederick Dennison, 85, of Lake in the Hills, Illinois and Naples, Florida passed away peacefully in the early morning of Sunday, March 29, 2026. Tom was born on May 21, 1940, to Arnold and Irene Dennison, and grew up in Momence, Illinois. He attended St. Patrick’s Academy, Momence High School, St. Procopius College, and graduated from Purdue University in 1965 with his master’s degree in pharmacy. Tom, the pharmacist, met the love of his life, Florence Walliser, the nurse, while they were both employed at Riverside Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois. They were married on September 5, 1970. In their more than 55 years together, Tom and Florence raised two daughters (Michelle, Carolyn); started a successful business (Home Healthcare Equipment); gained two sons-in-law (Guenter, Ryan) and three grandchildren (Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Johann); made homes in Kankakee, Eatonton (Georgia), Crystal Lake (Illinois), Lake in the Hills, and Naples, Florida; and traveled the world, amassing friends along the way. Tom was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner of every church he belonged to, serving from altar boy to parish council president. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, the Momence Antique Car Club, and the Illinois Pharmacy Association. He rang the Salvation Army bell with his granddaughters every Christmas. He volunteered for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry and the Baker Senior Center in Naples. One of Tom’s lifelong dreams was to drive his beloved 1914 Model T Ford from Kankakee to Eatonton. In the fall of 1999, with Florence navigating, and a just-in-case car transport following, Tom’s dream became reality. After four days, over 750 miles, and top speeds of a whopping 35 miles per hour, they arrived in Georgia with both the car and their sanity (barely) intact. Tom loved Chicago Cubs baseball and Purdue football and basketball, and never watched his teams lose without thinking he was the jinx that caused the loss. He loved cars, especially antiques, and could name the make, model, and year of any vehicle he saw. He loved to garden, earning Master Horticulturalist certificates in Illinois and Georgia, and developed very strong opinions about the direction in which the lawn was mowed. He loved tinkering and inventing and could fix anything (except the lawn mower). He loved fishing with his daughters and grandchildren. He loved popcorn, root beer, and ice cream. Above all, Tom loved his family and he loved his friends. Nothing in the world meant more to him than spending time with the people who made him the happiest. Tom will be remembered for his kindness, his patience, his faith, his generosity, his terrible Dad jokes. He is deeply loved and is sorely missed. He is survived by his wife, Florence; two daughters, Michelle (Guenter Hitsch), Carolyn (Ryan Ellison); his sister Mary (Phil Leber), his grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Steve Dennison. A memorial visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10300 Dundee Road, Huntley, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Baker Senior Center in Naples, Florida (https://www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org/support-us) or to the Alzheimer’s Association

Thomas "Tom" Frederick Dennison

May 21, 1940 - March 29, 2026