Thomas 'Tom' DeVriese

THOMAS "TOM" DEVRIESE

Cedar Rapids

Thomas M. DeVriese, 85, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Monday, May 16, 2022, at his home.

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, Ill., with a rosary recited at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at

9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Saint John The Baptist Church, 1416 Third Ave., Rapids City, Ill. Burial will be in Saint Mary's Cemetery, 2301 Third St., East Moline, Ill.

Tom was born on Febr. 21, 1937 in Rock Island, to Tayfield and Mary Jane DeVriese. He graduated from Alleman High School in 1954 and attended St. Ambrose College. In high school, he played in the marching band.

He married Virginia F. Lovested on Nov. 22, 1958, at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Moline, Ill. They were blessed with three sons Kevin, Scott and Steve. Virginia passed away Sept. 26, 1993, from cancer. A few years later, he met Anita Edaburn and they married on May 11, 1998, at Christ Community Church, Marion, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Anita; three sons, Kevin (Nancy) of East Moline, Ill., Scott (Kimberly) of Champaign, Ill., Steven (Jennifer) of Loveland, Colo., and one step-son, Greg Edaburn of Plano, Texas; six grandchildren, Lynn (Kevin) Cavers of East Moline, Ill., Anthony (Megan) of Shakopee, Minn., Spencer, Nolan, Olivia and Tatum DeVriese of Champaign, Ill.

Tom had several jobs over the course of 59 years of employment from 1956 to 2015. From 1956 to 1963 he worked for Swan Engineering, Bettendorf, Iowa, as a tool and die designer. From 1963 to 1970 he worked for John Deere Harvester, East Moline, as a tool and die designer and plant layout designer. From 1970 to 1985 he worked for General Electric Co., Bettendorf, as a customer service and sales engineer. From 1985 to 2015 he worked for Crescent Electric Supply Co. Davenport, as a sales engineer. In 1987-1992 he transferred to Rochester, Minn., as the branch manager for Rochester, Albert Lea and Winona branches. In 1992-2015 he was transferred to Cedar Rapids, as the branch manager for Cedar Rapids and Iowa City branches. He retired in 2015.

He was a member of the YMCA Indian Guides Program where he held several offices. He was also a member of the Moline Wrestling Club. He was a coach for the Moline Dads Club, Moline Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball programs for many years. He enjoyed playing slow and fast pitch softball and golfing with his buddies on Thursday afternoons. He, along with his wife Anita, loved to travel, garden, go to movies, casinos and watch sports and game shows.

He was preceded in death by sister-in-law, Sharon (Emrick) DeVriese, January of 2016; brother, Bill DeVriese, June of 2012; mother, Mary Jane (Foley) DeVriese, August of 2006; father, Tayfield DeVriese, September of 1998; and wife, Virginia (Lovested) DeVriese, September of 1993.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a Charity of your choice.

The family of Thomas DeVriese would like to thank the staff of Cedar Rapids, Iowa UnityPoint Hospice for their care and attention they provided to Tom.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com.