Thomas Briggs

Thomas Edward Briggs passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday August 14, 2024 after a brief illness, at the age of 83. He was born July 24, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois to Thomas W. Briggs and Emma V. (Pivovar) Briggs. Tom graduated from Chicago Vocational School in 1959 and met his beloved wife, Anne, at Illinois State University; they married in 1962. The young couple each graduated in 1963 with Bachelor of Education degrees. Tom initially applied his education to teaching deaf students in Decatur and Moline, Illinois. A few years later, he began several entrepreneurial pursuits including a hobby and slot car racing shop. In various seasons, he used his electrical and other industrial vocational training as the small business owner of A. T. Electric Service, as well as being an electrical millwright at the factories of Ford Motor Company and General Mills. Tom retired in 2015 after having dedicated over thirty years to managing the Area B Housing Cooperative in Park Forest, IL where he was also an active and influential member of the Rotary Club and the Christian Business Men’s Connection. Tom’s hands-on skills were extensive and he enjoyed using them in his work career along with many personal and home renovation projects. One of his favorite endeavors was the construction of a summer home on a lake in the woods of Michigan. While it was a long-term project, it was also an opportunity to include his children and grandchildren in some of the trades he knew and loved. He and Anne enjoyed the cottage regardless of the state of completion in which it was at any time. Tom is survived by their three children, Debora (Darryl) Bodine, Susan (Robert) Houghton, and William Briggs; seven grandchildren, Micah Bodine, Bethany (Stephen) Schultz, Rebecca (Jeremy) Detweiler, Joel (Allison) Bodine, Melissa (Stephen) Jenkins, Julie (Holden Harris) Houghton, Elizabeth Houghton; and sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings, Emily (Edward) Ruhlander and Ronald (Carolyn) Briggs.

Thomas was laid to rest at Homewood Memorial Gardens next to his dear wife, Anne. A memorial service for Thomas will take place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 10:30 am at Christian Reformed Church of Saint Joseph (3275 Washington Ave. Saint Joseph, Michigan).

Memorial donations may be made to Village Church www.villagechurchdyer.com, Restoration Ministries https://restorationministries.net/donate/ or the Homewood Cancer Center https://www.cancersupportcenter.org/<br>
Feel free to share a message with the family on their online guestbook at www.starks-menchinger.com