Thomas Bott

Thomas A. Bott, 75, of Danville, passed away on Monday evening, September 28, 2009 at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Mr. Bott was born on August 19, 1934, in Danville, the son of Mr. Frank F. Bott and Mrs. Margaret (Warner) Bott. On June 9, 1956, Tom married his high school sweetheart Catherine Saladino at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Danville. She survives along with their six children, Tim (Joy) Bott of Sun Fish Lake MN, Jeff (Laurie) Bott of Wilmington, DE, Chris (Susie) Bott of Wadsworth, OH, Cathie (Glen) Hussmann of Charlotte, N.C., Jackie (Henry) Massman of Kansas City, MO, and Peggie Bott, of Terre Haute, IN. Also surviving Tom are his 20 grandchildren, Michael, Frances, Rosalie, and Natalie Bott, Kevin, and Connor Bott, Colleen, Charlie, Andy, Jack, David, Jimmy, and Danny Bott, Paul, Jeffrey, and Katie Hussmann, and Thomas, Michael, Matthew, and Gregory Massman. His brother, Dr. Frank (Jackie) Bott of Big Bear Lake, CA, two brother-in-laws, Sam (Debbie) Saladino, Bob Tevebaugh, Frisco, TX, and his sister-in-law, Mary (Tootsie) Hamburg of Danville, IL, also survive Tom. His parents, mother-in-father, Samuel and Berta Saladino, sister-in-law Rita Tevebaugh, and his brother-in-law, Kerry Hamburg precede Tom in death Toms three loves were his faith, his family, and Norte Dame Football. He was a devoted husband of 53 years, loving father of six, and engaged grandfather. His twenty grandchildren took great delight in his elaborate storytelling and brilliant sense of humor. Toms memberships, accomplishments and awards include, lifetime member of St. Pauls Catholic Church in Danville, Eucharistic Minister and Lecture at St. Pauls and Provena USMC Hospital, St. Pauls Catholic Church Trustee since 1974, chairman of St. Pauls Finance Committee, and the renovation of the Motsett Center in Danville, as well being the recipient of the highest Catholic award Pere Marquette in 2004. Tom was a 1952 Schlarman High School graduate, and later president of the Schlarman Foundation Board. He earned advanced degrees from the University of Notre Dame, a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1956, and a MS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960. He was Sales manager for Bohn Aluminum from 1959-1974, President of Material and Fuel from 1974-1994, and Atomic Energy Commission, Ames, IA. He was President of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, Danville Economic Development Corp., and Vermilion County Health Care Board. Tom also participated in the Danville Rotary Club, Danville Boat Club, and the Danville Elks Club. Toms three loves in life were his faith, his family, and Notre Dame Football. A Catholic Mass and Celebration for Thomas Bott will begin at 11:00am on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Danville located at 1303 N. Walnut in Danville with Father Greg Nelson officiating, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4:30pm-8pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at the former, Lakeside-Barrack Funeral Chapel located at 3550, N. Vermilion St. in Danville with a public prayer service to begin at 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial condolences may be made to the St. Pauls Endowment Fund and the Schlarman High School Foundation. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.