Obituary for Tommy S. Patalas Tommy S. Patalas, 72, of DuQuoin, IL, passed away Sunday morning, August 19th, 2018, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, just 11 days short of his 73rd birthday. A Gathering of Friends will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gospel Assembly Church in DuQuoin on Tuesday evening, September 11, 2018. No formal services will be held, but it will be a time to visit and share memories.
Per his wishes, he was cremated and burial of ashes will be at a later date. Tommy spent his early life growing up in Chicago, on the north side, where he found the Cubs and the Cubs found in him a true die-hard fan. He was born on August 30, 1945, to Thomas Gustav and Hulda (Krause) Patalas.
The pulse of the city and the toughness of the neighborhood never left him, even as the family migrated south to Paris, IL. He was a 1963 graduate of Paris High School and soon went to work in the Paris area. He worked in the manufacturing industry mist of his adult life, spending time as a materials specialist, a logistical manager, and as the director of purchasing for Midwest Body, Inc. in Paris, IL, up through 1994.
He later became somewhat of a gypsy, as he traveled and lived close to wherever his son and family were moving to. He spent some time in Peoria and the surrounding area, up in LaSalle County around Ottawa, IL, and for quite a few years in the Mt. Carmel and Princeton, IN, area.
Eventually he moved to the Carbondale area and finally made his home in DuQuoin, just a few houses down from his son. He had been cancer free since 1993 after fighting off throat cancer that nearly killed him. Being the survivor that he was, he has fought various health issues since 2013.
He didn’t know the words “I give up” when it would have been so easy to do just that. Tommy loved a few things outside of his family: Indiana University Basketball, Alabama Crimson Tide Football, and the Chicago Cubs. November 2, 2016, was one of his best days ever and he shared the joy and happiness of Cubs fans everywhere when they finally won the World Series.
For him, living in the heart of Cardinals country when it happened made it all the better. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Sue Patalas, his favorite grandson Logan, and his favorite granddaughter Caitlyn, all of DuQuoin, and one brother, William (Billy) and his wife Beverly of Scottsboro, Alabama, and many friends from places near and far. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Edward, and one sister, Tina.
Memorials may be made to the family or to the Donor’s Choice. If you’re looking for something he would appreciate, memorials may be directed to the Perry County Humane To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Tommy S. Patalas please visit our Sympathy Store. Previous Events Celebration of Life , SEP 11.
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