Thomas "Tom" DeLorn Houle

Thomas DeLorn Houle, 90, of Gurnee, went home to be with the Lord July 27, 2024, at home surrounded by his family.  He was born February 18, 1934, in Columbus, WI to the late Lawrence Elmer and Ansine Marie (Ibson) Houle.  On December 20, 1959, in Madison, WI, Tom married the love of his life, Jeanne Larson.

Tom lived his younger years in Waterloo, WI and Pewaukee, WI.  He started college at The University of Wisconsin-Madison and left school to join The United States Navy, on the GI Bill, where he served on the USS Salisbury Sound from 1955-1957. He then returned to Madison, earned his Bachelor of Science Degree and met Jeanne at the university’s Baptist Student Center. He spent his entire career working as a City Planner. He began his career at City Hall in Duluth, MN.  He then worked for Regional Planning in Cleveland, OH at the Old Arcade. The majority of his career he worked in Lake County, IL, in the Department of Planning and Development, and then in the Department of Planning and Zoning.  He was an avid reader of history, kept up with current events, and read the newspaper daily.  He stayed connected with people he served with on the Salisbury Sound.  He enjoyed playing contract bridge and was a life-long member of Rotary.  His favorite vacations were spent with family, traveling the United States in his Winnebago motorhome.  He deeply loved his entire family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 ½ years, Jeanne Houle; three children, Ronald Houle, Lawrence (Kathryn) Houle, and Laura (Christopher) Stephens; four grandchildren, Veronica (Ethan) Jenkins, Robert Houle, Emma Cramer, and Thea (Carsten) Colburn; eight great grandchildren, Evan, Luke, Finn, Rainen, Osher, Keena, Cohen, and Kyren; and nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his brother, William Houle.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 9-11am, a memorial service at 11am, with a luncheon to follow, all at Gurnee Community Church, 4555 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee.  In Tom's loving memory, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Waukegan (PO Box 8728, Waukegan IL 60079) or the Independence Center, Waukegan (ICWaukegan.org). Interment will be private and take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Pewaukee, WI.  Arrangements entrusted to Sambrano Funeral & Cremation, Gurnee.  Please sign the guestbook at LauraSambranoFunerals.com; 847-571-7719. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas "Tom" DeLorn Houle, please visit our floral store.