Thomas “Tom” Conery of South Beloit, IL, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2026. He was born on March 3, 1933, in Rockford, IL to the late Paul Thomas and Dorothy (Olson) Conery.

Tom attended schools in South Beloit, IL and Beloit, WI, and graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1951. After High School, Tom served in the 317th Army Engineer battalion in Hoest, Germany as a construction draftsman in the S-3 intelligence section during the Korean War.

After his service in the military in 1953, Tom embarked on his civilian career in Chicago’s Marshall Field Co. State Street store where he learned his craft in “Interior Display” and “Window Display” and later rose to Assistant Manager in “Interior Display”, then later as Manager of Display for three years at the “Woodfield Store” in Schaumburg, IL in 1978. Tom later returned to the Marshall Field State St. store in Chicago until retirement in 1995.

Some of Tom’s most memorable achievements for Marshall Fields were to design the Christmas House and display called “Cozy Cloud Cottage for Children”. Tom also worked with and displayed for the designers of the day: Paulene Trere, Bill Blass, Versace, Galanos and was a favorite of Calvin Klein. Besides Marshall Fields in Chicago, Tom “free-lanced” for Cole and California Swim Suit line at the Chicago Merchandise Mart, Elizabeth Arden “Red Door” on Michigan Ave., Sulkas Mens store, the Continental Bank of Chicago, the Hyatt Regency Hotel and for the Italian Festival of Fashion Alta Moda, 1966-1967 Fall and Winter Collections at the Blackstore Hotel in Chicago.

In retirement in 1995, Tom returned to his parents’ home in South Beloit where he was an active member at St Peter Church designing the church’s Christmas and Easter displays through 1998.

He was an active member in the 4th degree Knights of Columbus, South Beloit American Legion, and the Beloit Art League of the Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College.

Tom also tried his hand at politics in Feb. 2003 as a candidate for the Mayor of South Beloit, IL where he beat the then incumbent mayor at the election but lost to a more popular candidate.

He spent the remainder of his life traveling, gardening, cycling, and enjoying his love of the arts.

He was predeceased by his parents, Paul T. Conery, Dorothy (Olson) Conery and brother Robert T. Conery. Memorials may be directed to the Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College, WI.

Funeral services will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church on Thursday, October 29, 2026, 11:00 a.m. with Father Koutnik. Visitation prior to Mass from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Services in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory LLD, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford IL, 61108. To share memories and condolences online, please visit, www.fitzgeraldfh.com.