Thomas Lee Lacquet

Thomas "Tom" Lee Lacquet, 72, of Danville, passed away at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Tom was born on June 9th, 1940, in Belleville, Illinois, the son of Elmer W. and Emma (Bunn) Lacquet. He married Sharon E. Smith on December 20th, 1975, at the Broadlands Immanuel Lutheran Church. She survives. He is also survived by their two children- Robb (Amy) Thomas of Cincinnati, Ohio and Maria Lacquet (Bill) Hopkins of Danville; two grandchildren- Aaron (Amber) Thomas of Cincinnati, Ohio and Christa Thomas of Cincinnati; and one great-grandson- Jacob Thomas of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents. Tom graduated from Belleville Township High School West in June of 1958. He later graduated Belleville Junior College in 1961, SIU-Edwardsville with his Bachelor's Degree in Education/Business Division in 1963 and he later graduated with his Masters Degree in Education in 1966 from SIU-Edwardsville. He was a member of Phi Pheta Kappa at Belleville Junior College and Pi Omega Pi and Phi Betta Kappa at SIU. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, while attending college, and served for 13 years. Tom started his teaching career at Red Bud High School and later he became a teacher at Danville High School, where he taught Law and Accounting, while teaching at Danville High School he also taught Law and Accounting at DACC. During his time teaching he was affectionately known as "The Judge" and won the Sandeson-Stapp Faculty Award in 1978, for being an outstanding teacher. He retired from teaching in 1993 and was hired by Judge Rita Garmen to be a Vermilion County court bailiff. He worked there for 8 years until his health forced him to retire. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for many years. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association, DEA, IEA, NEA and VCRTA. Tom enjoyed listening to classical music, reading philosophy books, bowling, his dogs and was an avid Illini, DHS and St. Louis Cardinals fan. His greatest love was spending time with his family. A Celebration of the life of Thomas "Tom" Lee Lacquet will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 6th, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Kent Tibben officiating. Burial will follow the service at Broadlands Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, a Life Celebration Home. Memorials may be made to the VCRTA Scholarship Fund, Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation and Trinity Lutheran School. Please join the family in posting memories, photos or videos on his tribute wall at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.