Thomas Kofoed

Thomas J. Kofoed, 91, of Ashland, Ill. died Monday morning, Nov. 19, 2012 at Heritage Health in Springfield, Ill.

  He was born April 17, 1921 in rural Thornton, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Jennie Clausen Kofoed.  He married Rita Jean Nall on Feb. 17, 1968 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield and she survives.

  He is also survived by a daughter, Janice Arlene Hangman (husband, Norman) of Waianae, Hawaii; 

four grandchildren, Donna Westbrook (husband, Scott) of Divernon, Steven Moffitt (wife, Janelle) of Chatham, Christopher Palmer of  Divernon, and Cecile Palmer of Gray Summit, Mo.; six great-grandchildren, Robby, Abby and Adam Gathard, Owen and Drew Moffitt, and Rylee Palmer; and a sister, Evelyn Esther Kofoed of Springfield.

  Mr. Kofoed was a graduate of Clear Lake, Iowa, High School and served as a Fireman 1st Class with the US Coast Guard aboard the USS H.D. Crow during WW II.  Following his military service, he worked as an installer with GTE, a mechanical draftsman for Pillsbury and other firms, and retired after several years with the State of Illinois Dept. of Corrections and Dept. of Public Health.  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Pleasant Plains and a life member of Ashland VFW Post #3546.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pleasant Plains, Ill., with burial at Berea Cemetery, south of Prentice, Ill.  The family will meet friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. Friday until the time of services.  Memorial gifts are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or Berea Cemetery.  The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home of Ashland, Ill., is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.buchanancody.com.