Thomas M. Wold

Thomas “Tom” Wold, 65 years of age of Wonder Lake formerly West Chicago IL suddenly passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2021, surrounded by his family and friends. Tom was born August 8th, 1955 in Chicago IL, and was the son of Myron (deceased), Marilyn (deceased) and Albert Hianik.

Tom is survived by his wife Laura, whom he was married to for 37 years (and they renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary in Jamaica), his son Matthew, Jackie (daughter in law), and grandchildren James and Thomas (Tom’s name sake) He was predeceased by his parents Marilyn Carpentier and Myron “Mike” Wold. He is survived by his brother Bob Hianik, Kristen (sister in Law), Jake (nephew) and Brianna (niece), his stepdad Al (who treated him as his own son) and also survived by his brother Bill, Denise (sister in law), Philip (nephew), Vanessa (niece) and Justin (nephew). He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews from the Evans/Pioch side of the family. He is also survived by his best friend Patrick Kyle (brother from another mother), his wife Candida and their children Ryan and Danielle, who called him Uncle Tom and was considered ‘very close’ family. He also loved his Houston Texas, St. Louis MO and Ft. Pierce FL friends, especially his buddy, Fred.

Tom attended Garfield Elementary School and Proviso East High School (graduated 1973), where he participated in football, baseball, wrestling and even concert choir. He went in the US Navy with his friends John Smart and Randy Nicholson in 1973. After returning from active duty, he met his wife Laura at a neighborhood bar called Jeanie’s (Good Doof) after his softball game. They dated 3 years before getting married on May 22, 1983. They lived in an apartment in Brookfield for a few years, then built a house in Woodridge (9 years), then built their West Chicago house (23 years) and he totally remodeled the lake house in Wonder Lake for retirement (5 years). He loved living on the lake, it was very therapeutic for him.

He was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather and friend and we are so blessed to have known him in his short life. He was overjoyed to be a father and grandfather. And was everyone’s friend because he was so loyal, dependable, and fun loving. If you needed help in anyway, he was there as a jack of all trades who could do anything with excellence and precision. Tom conquered prostate and kidney cancer and didn’t let his Parkinson’s diagnosis stop him from accomplishing his goals. For 16 years he suffered from the disease and yet through sheer determination, he continued to do all the activities he loved including boating, going out in his Corvette, or remodeling his Wonder Lake home. Most recently he was hospitalized for a gout flare-up, then contracted covid-19, which weakened his heart and he passed away from a massive heart attack because of it.

Tom served his country for 24 years in the United States Navy and became a proud Navy Chief. During the Vietnam War, from 1973-1979 he served Active Duty as a Fire Control Technician onboard the aircraft carrier USS INCHON and traveled the world to Egypt, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Guam, Australia, etc.. From 1991-2008, he served in the Navy Reserves at Great Lakes and became Chief Petty Officer (E7). For leisure travel, (lucky his wife was in the travel business), he did extensive traveling all over the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, Jamaica, cruises, etc. He went with his friends and family to Mountain Home Arkansas for 38 years boating on Lake Norfork. He just loved it there! He was a lifelong lover of Golden Retrievers, Corvettes, boating, sports (especially Cubs, Black Hawks and Bears), bowling, music, fishing in Canada, camping, collecting military coins and Navy items. In his spare time, he enjoyed remodeling our house, restoring a vintage motorcycle, restoring an antique coke machine. But the place Tom was happiest was while steering a boat on any body of water, but especially on the clear, warm waters of Lake Norfolk. There, Tom was in his element. He was a Navy Chief and captain, and for 38 years he enjoyed driving several speedboats on Lake Norfork and lovingly took care of his 4 boats throughout the years (15 ft. Glastron, 18 ft. Stingray, 25 ft. Stingray and 27 ft. Baja –as he would, say “the bigger the boat, the bigger the engine” and that he had the two-foot itus!) He truly was a speed boat and Navy kind of guy. Always gliding through the water, wind whipping through his blonde hair, filled with a calmness and peace, he was a man in his glory.

May he steer his ship through the waters of the sky on his way to heaven.

Private services and cremation for Tom were held on January 17, 2021; however, there will be a Celebration of Life get together at the Wonder Lake house in the summer around the 4th of July and a separate military memorial service at Abraham Lincoln in Elwood.in the fall. Details to follow (pending Covid-19)

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