Thomas E. Distelhorst 1948 - 2005

DISTELHORST, MCCLAREN

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 1/3/2015 at 10:53:32

The Hawk Eye

Thomas E. Distelhorst, 56, of O'Fallon, Illinois, born October 15, 1948, in Burlington, died Friday, June 17, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Belleville, Illinois.

Colonel Tom Distelhorst had a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force. After retirement he was employed by the Department of Defense as a commercial air carrier evaluator.

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated in 1966 from Mediapolis High School and was a 1970 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a masters degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Tom's love was flying the C-141 Starlifter. His priorities were God, his family, and his country.

Survivors include his wife Dana, née Wursten, Distelhorst of O'Fallon, Illinois, five children, Mary (Troy) Kool of Mather, California; John (Julie) Distelhorst of Davie, Florida; Amy Distelhorst, currently a senior at Brigham Young University; Mark Distelhorst, currently serving a Spanish-speaking mission for the LDS Church in Las Vegas, Nevada; and Katie Distelhorst, who will be a freshman at BYU; four grandchildren, Hannah and Justin Kool and Megan and Heidi Distelhorst; his mother Phyllis, nee McClaren, Distelhorst of Burlington; one sister, Ann Distelhorst and Ron Givens of New York City, New York; and one brother David (Beth) Distelhorst of Warwick, New York.

Tom was preceded in death by his father Milton H. Distelhorst.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Schildknecht Funeral Home, 301 S. Lincoln Avenue, O'Fallon, Illinois.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 255 Fairwood Hills Road, O'Fallon, Illinois., with Bishop Ben Nevins officiating. Burial with military honors will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.