Thomas William Gagnon, age 86, of Springfield, passed away surrounded by his family at his son's home on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. Tom was born January 9, 1931 in Springfield to Norman and Mary Hardy Gagnon.  He married Joanne Cox on June 2, 1951 in Springfield.

Tom graduated from Springfield High School, in January 1950.  He attended Shurtleff College in Alton, Illinois.  He was employed by Auto Owners Ins. Co. for 39 years, retiring in 1996.  Tom was a member of Woodside United Methodist Church. He was inducted into the Springfield Hall of Fame in 1996 as a Friend of Sports.  He loved sports, particularly coaching youth sports and baseball from 1957-1992.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Thomas W. Gagnon Jr. in 2013; a brother, John Gagnon; and a nephew, Daniel Gagnon.

Tom is survived by his wife, Jo, of 65 years, two sons, Robert (Heidi) Gagnon of Wheaton; Charles (Gloria) Gagnon of Springfield; two daughters, Diana (Mark) Stites of St. Charles, MO; Debora (Scott) Lee of Chatham, IL.; daughter in law Patricia Gagnon of Chatham;  fifteen grandchildren, Jason, David, Jacqueline, Julie, Megan, Morgan, Angie, Monica, Stephanie, Caitlin, Alyssa, Ryan, Bobby, Grant, Maggie; eleven great grandchildren, Zane, Ella, Jacob, Charlotte, Sean, Liam, Liv, Henry, Lexi, Addison, Emersyn; his sister Wanda (Bill) Miller of Springfield, two sisters in law, Mary Lee Gagnon, St. Louis, MO, and Norma Brothers of Rochester; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017 from 4-7 p.m. at Cotton Hill United Methodist Church.  The funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Cotton Hill United Methodist Church.  Burial services will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.  Pastor Sharon Treptow will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cotton Hill United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, or Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, MO.