Dr. Thomas J. Van Vooren, DMD

Dr. Thomas J. Van Vooren, DMD., 66, of Atkinson, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria.  A Funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson.  Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate.  Cremation Rites will be accorded following the Mass and a private inurnment will be at St. Anthony Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on Friday, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson Chapel.  Memorials may be directed to Thomas J. Van Vooren Memorial Fund, which will be distributed amongst several local charities.

Thomas was born on September 22, 1953, the son of Frank J. “Dobber” and Arlene (VanOpDorp) Van Vooren, in Geneseo.  He graduated from Atkinson High School in 1971 and attended Northern Illinois University for undergraduate courses.  He then attended Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, to obtain his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry.  On March 25, 1972, he married Beth M. Riekena at St. Anthony Catholic Church.  Tom purchased Dr. Graham’s dental practice in Annawan in 1978 and started Dr. Thomas Van Vooren Dental Office, retiring in 2013.  He was a member of the American Dental Association, Rock Island District Dental Society, Henry County Health Department Board, and a former Atkinson School Board member.  He loved his trips to Canada, where he served as CEO, at Possum Lodge.   He enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting, and especially spending time with his friends and family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Beth; his children, Jacob (Jill) Van Vooren, Chicago, and Jennifer (Phil) Cipfl-Koch, Shiloh, IL; grandchildren, Cole Aldeguer, Monet Van Vooren, Jack Cipfl, Maebree and Madelyn Koch; sisters, Bonnie (Ron) Obrecht, Geneseo, and Mary Kay (Jerry) Franks, Atkinson; brother, Duane (Kathryn) Van Vooren, Atkinson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Arlene.