Thomas D Wise

Thomas David Wise, 71, a resident of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, and wireless communications pioneer, died of heart failure Monday, August 18, 2014 in Cary, North Carolina. Mr. Wise, formerly of Belleville, Illinois, was the president of Wise Communications, Inc., a telecommunications firm serving the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Founded in East St. Louis, Illinois, by his late father, Harold G. Wise after World War II, Wise Communications, in conjunction with Motorola Corporation, established first-time two-way mobile communication systems for police and fire departments on the Illinois side of the Greater St. Louis Area, and later expanded operations to include industrial companies as well as police and fire departments throughout Southern Illinois.

As technology progressed and computers became more readily available, the younger Mr. Wise expanded his expertise beyond telecommunications systems to include development of computerized logistics, sales, accounting and planning systems, now commonly called “information technology.” He developed systems for transportation and energy companies including Clark Oil Company, an independent oil company serving the Midwest, and Quick Fuel, which provided tanker-carried fuels to airports and industrial clients.

Before starting what was to become his career in technology, Mr. Wise served in the U.S. Air Force as an MP in the Canine Unit, stationed in Libya and South Dakota.

He is survived by his wife, Sherron Wise of Fuquay-Varina, NC; sister Linda (Charlie) Campbell and brother-in-law Jamie Campbell of San Francisco, CA; Sherron's daughter Tammy Jackson of Raleigh, NC, son Brian Kanapaux and daughter-in-law Jennifer of Holly Springs, NC, and grandchildren: Lauren and her husband Justin Litaker of Matthews, NC, Andrew Kanapaux of Fuquay Varina, NC, Russell Kanapaux and Haley Kanapaux of Holly Springs, NC.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday August 23, 2014 at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville, Illinois. In North Carolina, visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 2014 at Thomas Funeral Home in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Mr. Wise's memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110 Raleigh NC 27612, or a charity of your choice.

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois