- Visitation
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012
from 4-8pm
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
and Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012
from 9-10am
at St. Mary’s Church in Carlyle, IL.
- Service
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
10:00 a.m.
at St. Mary's Church, Carlyle, IL
- Full Obituary
Thomas Michael Diamond, 45, of Highland, IL, born February 6, 1967 in Alexandria, LA, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, IL.
Tom grew up travelling the country in an Air Force family, but was proud to have graduated in the Mascoutah High School Class of 1985. After high school, he attended Montana State University and graduated at the top of his class from Police Academy at Belleville Area College. He retired due to spinal injuries in 2002 from a distinguished career as a patrolman and detective with the Fairview Heights, IL Police Department. Tom also served his country in the United States Naval Reserves. He later studied and nearly completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Climatology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Using this education and a lifelong interest in severe weather, he had a passion for storm chasing and was often the first to warn friends and family throughout the region when they needed to take cover. Though he lived in numerous states, he was a Montana boy through and through, visiting relatives, fly fishing and hiking in and around Bozeman as often as possible throughout youth and adulthood.
In addition to his faith and the love and devotion Tom put into being a husband and father including many years of coaching his children’s soccer teams, his biggest passion in life was music, having played lead guitar in many bands since his teens. Local acts he was a member of include When Pigs Fly, Paraffin Dora, Nytemare Cynema, Still October, and most recently The Hair Syndicate with his wife and eldest daughter. When not playing gigs with his own band or writing original music, he was an avid supporter of other local musicians and participated in Community Theater with Clinton County Showcase. Having touched so many lives as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and talented musician, he will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Edwin and Catherine Pegram and paternal grandparents, Robert and Olivia Diamond.
Surviving are his wife, Laurie, nee Wilton, Diamond; children, Courtney, Hollyn and Ian Diamond; parents, Thomas E. and Risé Diamond; siblings, Robin (Scot) Diamond-Ward, Greg (Sarina) Diamond; sister-in-law Jenny (Katie) Hotze-Wilton; mother and father-in-law, Michael and Barbara Wilton; nephews Chet Ward, Christian Diamond, Aidan Diamond, Owen Hotze-Wilton; niece, Peyton Ward and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Diamond Children’s Education Fund.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, from 4-8pm at Meridith Funeral Home in Highland, IL and Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, from 9-10am at St. Mary’s Church in Carlyle, IL.
Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church. Carlyle, IL.
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
