Obituaries
Thomas Aschom
December 10, 1931 - September 23, 2021
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VISITATION
September 27, 2021 | 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. -
Yurs Funeral Home
1771 W. State Street
Geneva, Illinois 60134 - Funeral
- September 28, 2021 | 2:30 P.M.
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Fox Valley Presbyterian Church
227 East Side Drive
Geneva, Illinois 60134 -
Burial Location
Oak Hill Cemetery, Geneva, Illinois
Thomas Richard Aschom, 89, died on Thursday, September 23rd, surrounded by his loving family. He was a 58 year resident of Geneva, serving two terms as 5th Ward Alderman from 1969 to 1977.
He and his wife Polly, of nearly 60 years, loved living on the Fox River, moving from one house to another on South River Lane, then to a condo on North River Lane.
Tom grew up in Lansing Iowa on the Mississippi River where his father and uncle started the Aschom Brothers Grocery Store. He even learned to drive at eleven years old so he could deliver groceries around town.
Tom attended Iowa State Teacher’s College in 1950 before serving four years from 1951 to 1954 in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict on the USS LST-883 (that he jokingly referred to as a Long Slow Target). Upon his return, he attended the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in Business.
Tom started his sales career with Marshall Fields in Chicago, then was a traveling salesman for Ira Jones Company in the Merchandise Mart for 55 years, half of that time as President/Owner along with his wife. He was a numbers guy who kept meticulous records and a salesman who was trusted, respected and beloved by his customers from little mom-and-pop shops to buyers at large department stores.
He served as a Deacon at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church of Geneva, and a term as President of the Geneva Golf Club.
As a life-long Chicago Cubs fan, he attended many double-headers as a young boy, driving with family all the way from Iowa to Wrigley Field for the day, and continued the tradition with his own family, showing his kids how to keep score.
Some of his other favorite things were family time while watching the Captiva Island sunset on the beach with a beer, snook fishing at dawn, golfing with his buddies, hosting an annual Norwegian party with friends, making Bloody Mary’s for Christmas morning with his older granddaughter, and being especially silly with his two year old granddaughter.
He was so grateful to participate in the Honor Flight in April 2017, a one-day trip to Washington DC for senior veterans to visit war memorials.
He is survived by his wife Polly, daughter Barbara and son Logan, son-in-law Daouda, daughter-in-law Erin and granddaughters Mariama Camara and Genevieve Aschom, as well as numerous cousins, and beloved nieces and nephews who adored him.
He is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Lola Aschom and sister Carolyn Aschom Willett.
Visitation will be held at Yurs Funeral Home at 1771 West State Street in Geneva on Monday September 27th from 4pm to 8pm.
Funeral Service will be at the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church at 227 East Side Drive in Geneva on Tuesday September 28th at 2:30pm, followed by the burial at Oak Hill Cemetery, 799 North Bennett Street in Geneva.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Geneva History Museum, 113 South Third Street, Geneva IL 60134, or to Honor Flight Chicago, 9701 West Higgins Road, Suite 310, Rosemont, IL 60018, or to Disabled American Veterans, 2122 West Taylor Street, #104, Chicago, IL 60612.
He will be so dearly missed. Go Hawkeyes! Go Cubbies!
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Magaret Griner from Weston, MA
"The Aschoms and Griners go back a long way with such loving memories to share. I am thankful for the time spent with Tom. He will be remembered with love and affection and for gratitude for the twinkle in his eyes! I can hear him laugh....Margaret"
Elizabeth Versten from Chicago , IL
"I am so sorry for your loss. He seemed like a wonderful man. My thoughts are with you."
Jerry Bleck from Geneva, IL
"The Bleck family and the Aschom families were next door neighbors on South River Lane for many years. Our deepest sympathy to the Aschoms on the loss of Tom."
Nadine Stonecipher from Murray, KY
"He was a good man as well as salesman"