John Thomas "Tom" Costigan Obituary (1925 - 2016)

John Thomas Tom Costigan, 90, of Bloomington died at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday (May 31, 2016) at his home surrounded by his family. A funeral mass celebrating Toms life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church, Bloomington, with Monsignor Douglas Hennessy officiating. Burial will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday also at Holy Trinity Church. Tom was born December 10, 1925 in Bloomington, the son of Thomas Ivan and Josephine Boone Costigan. He married Dolores Reynolds June 23, 1951. Doe died in 1971. He was also preceded in death by his daughter Colleen Newberry, his parents, his sister Jean and brother Jim. On July 28, 1984, Tom married Margaret Peggy Johnston she survives. These two best friends enjoyed many happy years together. Peggys care for Tom during his last years exemplified the true meaning of love. He is survived by his sister Colleen Welch (Manhattan Beach, CA) and bother David (Mary Ensenberger) Costigan (Quincy IL). Also Surviving is a daughter Cathy (Steve) Haas, Bloomington, sons Matthew (Jane Sequenza) Costigan, Hillsboro, OR and Todd (Virginia) Costigan of Chicago and son-in-law Michael Newberry. Also surviving are Peggys children: Karen Fleming and Kim (Duane) Bruninga, Robert (Jenny) Johnston, Kathy (Leon) Munyon and Jim (Kim) Johnston. Tom and Peggy were blessed with 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren with two on the way. All grand and great grandchildren, try as they might, knew not to sit in grandpas chair. Tom was a true Bloomington man; attending Holy Trinity Grade School, Trinity High School and Illinois Wesleyan University. He also attended the US Merchant Marine Academy and then went on to serve as an officer in many harrowing actions in the south pacific during WW II. After returning from the war, Tom followed his dad and started with the US Postal Service. In 1952 Tom joined State Farm Insurance Companies where he worked for 39 years, making friends throughout the company and around the country. He retired from State Farm in 1990, to take up traveling, golf, the White Sox and enjoying his family. Tom with Peggy, his best friend and travel companion, took over 40 cruises and visited 75+ countries. However Tom and Peggy were always eager to return home to family and friends. Tom had a love of sports, watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren across the sandlots and ballfields of central Illinois. He was also a devoted follower of the Central Saints, IWU Titans and Chicago White Sox. Tom was Bloomingtons most famous and best known White Sox fan, so much so that after the Sox lost the 1959 World Series, Toms friends draped his home with sympathy bunting. Tom was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church where he served as an altar boy, as a Lecturer for over 40 years and as a founding member of its St Vincent DePaul Society. In 1934, Tom served as an altar boy for the consecration of the newly rebuilt Holy Trinity. He was fourth degree Knights of Columbus for many years. One of Toms proudest moments was in 2012 when he made a WW II Honor Flight to Washington DC with his sons Matt and Todd. There are many friends, relatives and beloved family rejoicing in heaven now with Tom. He will be missed, while his legacy and Costigan name live on. Join us as we celebrate a loving goodbye to a great husband, dad, father-in-law, Grandpa, brother, mentor and friend.Donations in Toms honor may be made to the St Vincent DePaul Society at Holy Trinity Church or to Central Catholic High School.