Thomas Edward Pautler, formerly of Randolph County

Thomas Edward Pautler, 76, died peacefully at his home in Tucson, Arizona on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021.

Tom was born in Randolph County on Aug. 4, 1944 and grew up on a farm south of Ellis Grove, Illinois. He was the son of Thelma (Simpson) Pautler and John Henry Pautler, and after the early death of his birth mother was adopted by John's second wife Ola Yvonne (Simpson) Pautler.

He was preceded in death by his older brother Richard, and is survived by his siblings Susan Linback, Charles Pautler and Steven Pautler.

Tom attended grade school and served as an altar boy at St. Mary's in Chester prior to attending St. Henry's Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, and later the Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in St. Louis.

He transitioned from priesthood studies to attend St. Louis University, where he met his first wife, Judy Goessling, of Alton, Illinois.

Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army after graduating college in 1966, and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas as a medic where he demonstrated an aptitude for psychological testing.

After the Army, Tom and Judy moved to San Diego, California where they raised their two daughters, Jenny and Lisa. Tom worked for San Diego County's probation department for 35 years in a variety of exciting and challenging roles. He always enjoyed the outdoors, and took his family on many camping trips throughout the Western U.S., as well as the occasional visit back to the family farm in Illinois.

Tom divorced Judy and married his second wife, Susan, in 1986. After retirement, Tom built a house near Spokane, Washington where he collected a variety of vintage tractors. In 2014, Tom moved to Tucson to have a warmer home base for traveling and to be near his eldest daughter, Jenny. Unfortunately, he fell ill before being able to take many major road trips, but was able to enjoy the benefits of ranch life, such as watching his daughter's resident horses and driving some (slightly smaller) tractors around the property.

Due to the pandemic no services are currently planned, though his family in the greater St. Louis area hopes to host a small gathering in his memory later this year.