Hoogerwerf, Thomas T.

Thomas T. HoogerwerfThomas T. Hoogerwerf, 77, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at Odyssey House Hospice in Palm Desert, Calif., following a stroke.

Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or the Regina Foundation.

Tom was born Sept. 8, 1935, in Geneseo, Ill., the son of Theodore and Elodie Carton Hoogerwerf. The family moved to Moline in 1940. In 1953 he graduated from Alleman High School in Rock Island, where he was later inducted into the Alleman High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom married Lou Rae Colman on July 13, 1957, in Rock Island. In 1957 he graduated with a bachelor's degree from Regis College, where he played college basketball. Tom served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, attaining the rank of Major.

Tom was employed with Iowa & Illinois Gas and Electric, now Mid-American, for his entire career. After 35 years he retired in 1996 as district manager for the Johnson County area.

He was civic-minded and had served as president of several community organizations including ICAD, Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Iowa City Rotary. Tom enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes, playing tennis, and doing yard work. He walked every day with his “walking stick”. Tom enjoyed time spent in southern California where he loved leading hikes in the mountains.

Tom is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lou Rae; one son, Michael (Pamela) Hoogerwerf, and their children, Whitney and Trenton; one daughter, Cheryl (Bob) Reardon, and their children, Conor and Sean; his brothers, James (Rock Island, Ill.) and Richard (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and families; and numerous relatives.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gregg.

Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service where online condolences may be directed to .

Published Feb. 27, 2013 in The Gazette