Thomas “Bill” Bannon, a lifelong resident of Springfield, Illinois passed away Thursday, October 23, 2025 at his home; he was 95 years old. He was born April 7, 1930 to Noble “Bud” Bannon and Virginia (Correll) Bannon.
He grew up on a farm and attended school in a one-room schoolhouse near his home. As a youngster he raised chickens to sell along with their eggs as well as worms for fishing but he was a tinkerer at heart. He added a motor to his mother’s treadle sewing machine and the push lawn mower. As a teenager he put crystal and tube radio kits together. He attended Springfield High School, joined West Side Christian Church and took classes from a correspondence course in electronics. He had a remarkable ability to learn skills through reading technical material and a talent for repairing and creating all sorts of gadgets. He put a sign in his front yard and began a business repairing radios. In 1948 Bill and his parents moved from the farm to the city where they built a house and Bill’s shop on Franklin Ave. Later he added television repair to his business known as Bannon TV Electronics which he ran with his wife by his side as his “Gal Friday”. He also repaired organs for Ackermans Music and Hoot Gibson Music, installed and repaired intercoms for Nutone, background music systems for 3M and repaired Power Wheel toys. He was an authorized parts dealer for Sunbeam Grills and repaired Casablanca ceiling fans. He was retired in 1997 after more than 50 years in business.
Bill was involved in many social activities. He and his friends bought an airplane and learned to fly. They also swam at the YMCA and skated at Moonlight Garden Skating Palace. It was at Moonlight Garden that he met Kathryn Levick, a schoolteacher from Ft. Madison, Iowa. They were married on June 14,1959 and began a 66 year union of love and devotion. The couple purchased a kit home from a local lumberyard and built it on the land next to his shop. They soon added two daughters and a son to their family. Bill and Kathy were members of the Beau Knots Sunday School class at West Side Christian Church where they made many friends throughout the years. Bill served as a deacon and substitute Sunday School teacher and was very active in the Senior Adult Ministry and For One Ministry.
When his family was young Bill converted a Tom’s Peanut Van into a camper and took the family to many places including Disney World, The Smoky Mountains, Colorado, etc. After their children had grown Bill and Kathy took many more camping trips in their trailer. He loved a good pun and always had a corny dad joke to share. Bill was the foundation of his family as he relied on his faith in God, scripture and prayer. He was a kind and loving father who took joy in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His absence in his loved ones’ lives will be filled by the happy memories and the anticipation of a joyful reunion in heaven.
Bill is survived by his wife Kathryn Bannon, his three children: Karen (Dave) Micheletta, Barb Bannon Roberson and Tom (Grace) Bannon, five grandchildren: Matthew (Krista) Park, Jenny (Kyle) Smithson, Katie (Tyler) Hardin, Elizabeth Bannon and Jim Bannon, six great grandchildren: Jovie, Kenley, Noble and Kansas Park, Scarlett and Lincoln Smithson. He is preceeded in death by his parents.
The family will hold a private graveside ceremony. Memorial donations may be sent to West Side Christian Church.
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