Thomas J. Hanahan

Thomas J Hanahan 74, devoted husband, father, Gramps, born in Chicago, IL, passed peacefully April 3, 2009 in his home surrounded by his family.  Tom always lived each day to the fullest, enjoying traveling, woodworking and carpentry, golfing, sailing, cooking (Brigidini?s and Irish Soda Bread were his specialty) and spending quality time with his family.   Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Sandee (Schweighart), and his four children: Thomas J Hanahan III of Chicago, IL; Karen Holycross and husband Dan of Baton Rouge, LA; Connie Molland and husband Rick of Asheville, NC; and David Hanahan of Minneapolis, MN.  Grandfather of Sarah Bo Morel and husband Brian of Vilseck, Germany, and Lindsay Street and husband Henry Ryan of Newport, NC.  Proud great grandfather of Aiden and Sophia Morel.  He will also be missed by his mother, Madeline Hanahan, brothers Bob Hanahan and wife Ida, Phil Hanahan and fiancé Carole, all from the Chicago area, and sister Marilyn Ferro and husband Enrique of Temecula, CA.   Tom attended St. Ignatius High School in Chicago and graduated from the Carpenter?s Apprentice School as journeyman carpenter.  He served his country from 1951 to 1953 in the US Navy Seabees in the Korean War.  In 1964 he was elected to the Illinois State Legislature on an at-large ballot and served the citizens of Illinois for 18 years.  He is best remembered as a strong champion for labor issues during his tenure in the legislature.  He served as the State Chair for the Young Democrats for the State of Illinois, and was honored to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and again in 1972.  Additionally, Tom worked his way up through the ranks of the International United Brotherhood of Carpenters with the high point serving as Vice President of the Executive Board.   Tom was a 50+ year active member of both the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Union and the Knights of Columbus.  With the Knights of Columbus, Tom served as a Grand Knight of the Thomas D Reilly Council 10668, Hilton Head Island, SC, as a Faithful Navigator of the Hilton Head Assembly of the 4th Degree and as District Director for the state of South Carolina.  Tom was a current member of the Prescott American Legion Post 6 and of Yavapai Council 1032 Knights of Columbus.