- Date Of Birth: March 19, 1929
- Date Of Death: November 18, 2019
- State: Illinois
Lt. Col. Harold Thomas Cooney, U.S. Army (Ret.), 90, a former Jacksonville, IL, resident, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, at his home in Springfield.
He was born Mar. 19, 1929, in Island Grove Township, the son of Harold Anthony and Lola Mae Owen Cooney. He married Nancy Stafford on June 18, 1960, in Jacksonville and she survives.
He is also survived by two sons, Thomas Cooney Jr. of Springfield, and Tracy (Doni) Cooney of Winchester; five grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Madison Cooney; and three sisters, Janice Meyer (surviving husband Jim of Jacksonville), Mildred Haney, and Patricia Lawless.
Mr. Cooney was a 1947 graduate of Routt High School. He then attended Illinois College for two years before attaining a Certificate of Law from La Salle University. He was a Korean War Veteran of the U.S. Army, serving as a 1st Lieutenant with the 2nd Infantry Division as a Platoon Leader and Recon Officer. While there, he earned a Bronze Star as well as the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars.
Tom worked many years with his father with the 400 Cab Service and the Cooney Ambulance & Funeral Service Co. He then became a Sergeant with the Jacksonville Police Department for three years. Following that, he began a career as a Claims Adjuster for Country Mutual Insurance Company, retiring after 31 years. Tom was a member of Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville. He was an avid sports fan, and especially enjoyed rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini Football. He also enjoyed playing cards, reading mystery books, listening to music, and attending concerts.
