Thomas VanWinkle

Thomas “T. K.” Keith VanWinkle, 44 was a native of DeQuincy and a longtime resident of Belleville, Ill. He was born Feb. 15, 1975, in Lake Charles and passed away Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill.

T. K. is survived by his mother, Jeannie, Bland VanWinkle of Belleville, Ill.; wife, Kimberly, Baumann VanWinkle of Belleville, Ill.; children, Copelan Keith VanWinkle of St. Louis, Mo., Dailyn Lee VanWinkle of Belleville, Ill., Johnathan Jones of Belleville, Ill., Justin Jones of Belleville, Ill., Kaylee Jones of Belleville, Ill.; sister, Sabrina (Neil) Fudge of Belleville, Ill., and cousins; Neali DeRamus (Keith) Perkins of Sulphur, and Nicole Gray Sullivan of Hook, Texas; aunt, Olivia Bland Gray of DeQuincy; nieces and nephews, Dawson Perkins, Kamden Perkins, Brooklynn McDade, Brayden Mizzell, and Brody Fudge.

T. K. was the son of Jeannie and the late Tommy Lynn “Tootie Bell” VanWinkle and grandson of the late Oliver Keith “O.K.” and Katherine “MeMe” Wright Bland who preceeded him in death; as did his aunt, Suzanne Bland DeRamus.

T. K. was a Conductor for the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, Mo. for 21 years and the General Chairman of the Smart Local #469. T. K. previously worked as a Conductor for the Union Pacific and the Kansas City Southern Railways. He was also a member of First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Ill.

T. K. enjoyed several hobbies which included hunting, fishing, cooking and spending time with his family. His passion was to cook and serve others, especially his family. He was considered by many to be an excellent grill master. He was also known to arrive at your doorstep unannounced with smoked meats that he enjoyed preparing. T. K. received such gratitude by helping and giving to others.

T. K. was generous, humble, dedicated, honest, hardworking, loving and a deeply devoted family man.

T. K. was taught at a young age to be a loyal and dependable person, not only to his job but also towards anyone that he encountered. His Christian roots provided guidance to always display his true character and instill those values into anyone that he could.

He was a 1994 graduate of Belleville East High School.

The family received friends and relatives from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, Ill. and from 12 to 1 p.m. Feb. 8, at the First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Ill.

A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, Feb. 8, where the train whistle blew one last time at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Ill., with Rev. Skip Leininger officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials were accepted for his children’s education.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.kurrusfh.com

(Paid Memorial)

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