Thomas "Tom" Ivey

Born October 28, 1943 in Pekin to Lewis Donald and Alberta (Gomes) Ivey, he married Cheryl Diane (Myers) Woith on February 14, 1987 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, John Ivey of Friendswood, Texas and Shaun (Melissa) Ivey formerly of Pekin; two stepsons, Matthew Woith of Frisco, Texas and Zach (Patty) Woith of San Mateo, California; five grandchildren, Trey Ivey, Blair Ivey, Hailey Ivey, Taylor Frames and Lucas Woith; one sister, Donna Corso of Pekin; one niece, Jill (Mike) Oberle and his sister-in-law, Sandy Myers of Carrollton, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Jim Corso.

A 1961 graduate of Pekin Community High School, he was a graduate of Western Illinois University in Macomb with his Bachelor of Science Degree and earned a Master of Arts Degree from Webster University.

He served in the United States Military for more than 20 years, retiring on November 1, 1982 as a Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Army. He was a Vietnam War veteran. He also worked for Department of Children and Family Services as a Child Protective Investigator from 1989 to 1999 and then owned and operated Ivey Investigative Services in Pekin for many years.

Tom was a former member of the American Polygraph Association. He was a life member of the Illinois State Rifle Association. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Pekin.

He was passionate about golf, enjoyed photography and target shooting. He also was a member of the Prairie Koi & Pond Society.

He was a devoted member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pekin, where he was an elder and choir member. Additionally, he was a member of several productions of Pekin Civic Chorus, Peoria Civic Chorale and the Messiah in Morton.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 18, 2024 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pekin. Pastor Daniel J. Bishop will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Army and the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 711 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to the Pekin Park Foundation for the Steve Funk Junior Golf Fund, 1701 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com