Thomas J. Kukowski

THOMAS J. KUKOWSKI

Age 56, of Mokena, passed away at his home Saturday, August 6th, 2022.

Tom is survived by his loving family, wife, Sandy Briseno-Kukowski, children, Zackery (Jocelyn Gilbertson) Kukowski, Mickayla Kukowski, father, Thomas R. Kukowski, siblings, Jeff (Meagan) Kukowski, Ken Kukowski, nieces and nephews, Quinn Kukowski, Reese Kukowski and Jessica Kukowski.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Kukowski (Novak).

Tom was a very social, loving, competitive and loyal person. He worked his entire life to pay his way while excelling in a number of sports including baseball, basketball and running. Tom was an exceptional runner in high school and college running Cross Country and Track for Lockport High School and then Eastern Illinois University. His most significant running achievements were at Lockport. In addition to running on two top ten State Cross Country teams, one of which he captained, his two-mile relay team held the school record for over 15 years set at the State meet in 1983. Tom was a mentor and leader to all of the runners in the Lockport program. Tom seemed to remember every time every person had ever posted for every event. He loved the people and the sport.

While Tom started his career in the healthcare and sports field working for Bally’s, Northwestern University, Swingtown and Parke Davis, he took his love for people and friends into a life-long career of working for American Family and then as an insurance broker. He loved to bring people together and always prioritized opportunities to get together with friends or family. Tom has often made the claim of making ‘the best tapiquena.’ He was always there for the people in his life that needed him personally and professionally. Most that know Tom know about his love for 80s music, but many do not know that he was also in swing choir in high school and always held his nose while jumping in any body of water throughout life. There are more than a few pictures documenting Tom’s love for all things chocolate, including one of him giving his daughter Mickayla her first Dove bar.

There was nothing that brought more joy to Tom than his family. Sandy was the love of his life. While from the very same neighborhood living only a couple of streets apart, their romance started at Lockport High School - leading to their marriage on September 4, 1994. Tom would routinely pull out a little gimmicky keychain viewer that has a picture from one of their first dates at Great America. Tom was an avid sports dad with countless social media posts using countless exclamation marks. His family was his world, and his children Zack and Mickayla made him extremely happy and proud. Tom made attending countless baseball and basketball games, track meets and cheer competitions his priority – you may have heard him cheering on the teams if you were there. He happened to win ‘Best Cheer Dad’ in 2017 having competed for the title for many years prior.

Every memory brings a smile. He will be sorely missed by many.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Saturday, August 13th, 2022 from 2:00 PM until time of funeral service at 7:00 PM. Interment will be private.