Thomas (Tom) Duncan Jr., age 97, of Lexington Square of Elmhurst, went to be with the Lord on November 3rd, 2020
Tom was born on August 8, 1923 in Glasgow, Scotland to Tom and Martha Duncan.
In 1931, following after their father, who had traveled to the United States in hopes of securing a better life for his family, Tom and his sisters Ellen (Kashian) and Margaret (Felten), along with their mother, arrived at Ellis Island and then took the long train ride to Chicago to rejoin their father and begin their new life in America.
Tom graduated from Evanston High School with hopes of fighting in the war as a pilot, but not being a naturalized citizen that option was not available, so he enlisted in the Coast Guard. He was assigned to the USS Centaurus in the South Pacific where he achieved the rank of Quartermaster and participated in six invasions, including those of the Marshall and Admiralty Islands.
After the war Tom returned home to Chicago to begin his post WWII life. In 1950, he attended a church gathering at Lake Geneva Conference Point where he met June Dunkerton who had stopped with her parents while traveling back to New York from a family reunion in Iowa. Tom was smitten and in the bestselling job of his life, convinced June's parents that she could spend the week with his family in Chicago and he would drive her back to New York the following weekend. So, began the courtship with Tom making frequent visits to Yonkers on the weekend to visit June and hurrying back to Chicago to continue his work at Illinois Bell. Tom and June were married on February 16th 1952. A host of children soon followed; Susan in 1953, Bruce in 1954, Phil in 1957, Keith in 1961 and Cheryl in 1966.
During this time, Tom's career continued. He accepted a promotion and moved from the Chicago office to the Springfield office in 1961 and then was promoted again and returned to the Chicagoland area in 1966, moving to a new home in Wheaton, Illinois.
In returning to the Chicago area, Tom determined his first priority was to find a good church and once done, would then find and purchase a home nearby. He and June found that good church in Bethany Chapel where they faithfully attended and served for many years. During his time at Bethany, Tom served in various roles, from chairing the church business meetings to teaching Sunday School, but he and June are best remembered not by official roles but rather by their gift of hospitality. Tom would welcome visitors at the front narthex with a smile, warm handshake and as often as not, an invitation to Sunday dinner.
In 2000, Tom and June moved to Lexington Square in Elmhurst, Illinois. June was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia around that time and Tom cared for her until her passing in October 2005. In addition to their five children, Susan, Bruce (Judy), Phil (Kendra), Keith (Tess) and Cheryl (CD), their legacy includes 21 grandchildren – Stephen (Amanda), Philip (Lindsey), Ian, Peter, Kirk (Chrissie), Kelly (Marc), Kyle (Andrea), Katie (Jim), Konni, Elisabeth, Sara, Hannah (Dave) Andrew, Kim (Tim), Ryan, Diana (Koert), Brittany (Chris), Alex, Maggie, Chole, and Micah and 17 great grand-children – Rayleigh, Timothy, Jonathan, Ian, Elijah, Leah, Emily, John, Gabriella, Henry, Calvin, Annalyn, Stonewall, Strider, Shepherd, Everett and Duncan
Tom's life was rich with joy and laughter and he was loved by his family. Those who knew Tom, knew of his unshakeable faith and deep devotion for his Lord and Savior and of his great desire that all would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. His life verse was Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

A graveside service will be livestreamed on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIkrFhAjFDU&feature=youtu.be . A celebration of life service will be planned when Covid restrictions have eased.

Memorials may be directed to Repeat Boutique in Wheaton.