Herb Thoman's Obituary
Herbert Thoman, 91, of Vandalia, IL passed away at Saturday, May 23, 2026 at SBL Fayette County Hospital Long Term Care.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00AM, Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia with Rev. Joe Lawson officiating. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery, Vandalia with Military Rites accorded by Crawford-Hale American Legion Post # 95, Vandalia & Brownstown VFW Post #9770. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM, prior to services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials made be made to Shiners Hospitals for Children. Online condolences can be expressed at https://www.hohltandfilefh.com
Herbert Thoman was born on July 17, 1934 in Vandalia, IL, the son of John D and Virginia (Poland) Thoman. After graduating high school, he proudly served in the US Army.
Herb married Phyllis Goodman and together raised they three children. Later Herb and Phyllis parted ways but remained a united family. Herb shared over 40 years with his loving companion, Judy Critcheloe.
Throughout the years Herb worked as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic for Union Local 520; working on major projects like the I-70 addition near Scott Air Force Base and Lock & Dam no. 26 near Alton, IL. Herb retired twice, after his first retirement he went back to work to run equipment for the pipeline. He was known to work over 60 hour weeks and still find time to train and operate Thoman’s Kennel, where he bred English Pointer hunting dogs.
Herb loved the outdoors, whether it was taking his horse Trigger for a ride into town, training his dogs, or hunting birds and mushrooms, you would never see him sitting idle. But after a long day you may hear Herb say “do you want ice cream?”, that was his way of implying he was ready for his favorite treat, a “Herb special” from the Ramsey Dairy D or a scoop of ice cream at home.
Herb was a previous member of the AINAD Shriners and the Masonic Temperance Lodge #16.
He is survived by daughter, Bev and husband Kenny Lewey of Vandalia; son-in-law, Stuart Lakin of Brownstown; grandchildren, Tara Tritt with Brandon George, Laura Lakin with Jesse Deters, Ashley Lakin, Aaron Lewey and Aubrey Lewey; great granddaughters, Kimberlyn Tritt and Evan Lewey; significant other, Judy Critcheloe.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Janet Lakin; son, Ken Thoman; brothers, Harold and Donald Thoman; infant sisters, Helen and Faye Thoman.
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