Thomas Cadle

When reflecting on the life of Thomas Cadle, the word that perhaps depicts him most clearly is vibrant. In everything he did, he did it in a way that was larger than life from the jokes he told, to the work he did, to the way he deeply loved the family he viewed as his greatest treasure. Tom was known for his insatiable and contagious sense of humor as he was always kidding around with everyone and was unmatched in his ability to deliver a punch line. A sports fanatic to his core, no team could ever touch his beloved Redskin, yet the Red Sox and Bulls came in a close second and third. Those who knew Tom knew he would be available at the drop of a hat and that there was no favor too big or too small in his book. Through his spirit of generosity and ability to love unconditionally, Tom touched the lives of so many in a significant way.

As the decade of the 1970s loomed on the horizon, America was preparing to say goodbye to one of the most turbulent and life-changing decades in our history. Women’s rights and civil rights topped news headlines nearly every night and with the growing disillusionment of government and the continued division over the Vietnam War, the cultural fabric of our nation continued to experience growing pains for the next several years. It was in on March 11th of 1969 that one family from Kankakee, Illinois, had much to celebrate with the birth of a healthy baby boy. Thomas Raliegh was welcomed into the bustling family of Elvin and H. Rose (Rutherford) Cadle as one of seven boys and six girls. From the moment he was born it was as if Tom wanted the world to know he was here as he was carried for ten months and emerged looking a bit like a “little man” according to the doctor who delivered this ten pound, three ounce baby who measured in at twenty-two and one-half inches long.

When he was just ten months old, Tom was ready to take the world by storm as it was then that he began walking and never slowed down. As a young boy he loved playing baseball and was an outstanding pitcher, catcher, hitter, fielder, and runner as well. Tom had a lifelong love not just for sports, but also for music and had a gifted bass voice.

Throughout his life, there was nothing that was ever more precious to Tom than his family. He was always loving towards his mother and a more devoted husband and father would be hard to find. On October 16, 1994, Tom married his best friend, Nancy Gullquist, and it was clear to see that his children, Amelia and Heath were the light of his life. He made time to really enjoy each day with his wife and children and went over and above to make every day special. Christmas was Tom’s favorite time of year as he went all out in decorating everything just so. In order to support his family he worked as a self-employed salesman for the State Aerial Farm Statistic Company in Ohio. Since he was such a people person by nature, this career suited Tom well as he was a fantastic salesman.

There are so many things that we will always remember about Tom. He loved collecting Peanuts characters and enjoyed watching football, basketball, and baseball. Tom loved Tennessee and watching classic movies and television shows like The Three Stooges and The Little Rascals. As a member of the Peoples Church in Bourbonnais, Tom sang bass in the choir, and he also liked attending southern gospel singings with his family and mother. The ultimate prankster, he loved picking on others, and he enjoyed recalling the jokes he told including the genuine laughter he provided, too. When it came to music, Tom was all about the classics, too, and was known to blare music from Buddy Holly and others from that era while driving in the car. It may not be so well known that Tom loved to throw stuff out the car window, and that nothing made his day like finding great treasures at yard sales.

We won’t forget the great lessons Tom taught us along the way – things that were more caught than taught. Life was not always easy for Tom, but he taught us to persevere and that if we approach every trial with a grin and a joke, somehow everything just looks a whole lot better. He taught us to be loyal and honest, and he demonstrated what it meant to be a man of his word. Tom was a protector, a sustainer, and a true friend in every sense of the word.

Thomas Cadle was a man who loved deeply, lived fully, and never took one thing for granted. He lived each day on purpose with a vibrancy that never wavered while providing harmony to the everyday melody of life. Tom cherished his family above all else and considered his roles as a husband and father to be both his highest calling and his greatest gift. Life will never be the same without Tom here, but we will all be changed for the better because he was. His memory will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of many.

Thomas Raliegh Cadle died on May 11, 2011. Tom’s family includes his wife, Nancy, of Bourbonnais; daughter, Amelia Anne Rose Cadle of Bourbonnais; son, Heath Tyler Cadle (Candybar) of Bourbonnais; mother, H. Rose Cadle of Bradley; brothers, Eddie (Cherlyn) Cadle of Bourbonnais, Tony Cadle of Mt. Vernon, Victor Cadle of Kankakee, Tim (Robin)Cadle of Kentland, IN; sisters Irleen (Eddie) Fields of Bradley, Doreen (Rev. Dan) Hanners of Zion, Gleneva (Paul) Lundmark of Kankakee, Cathy (Pete) Lundmark of Bradley, Verleen (Vince) Martyn of Bourbonnais and Viola (Gary) Meents of Kankakee; sister-in-law, Merrie Cadle; brother-in-law, Bill (Connie) Gullquist of Clifton; mother-in-law, Gloria Gullquist of Clifton; 38 nieces and nephews as well as 31 great-nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Elvin, and his brothers, Edwin, Pat, and Ray Cadle. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at the Kankakee Chapel of Schreffler Lifestory Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. A time for family and friends to gather will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.