Thomas Varney

Thomas Francis Varney, 72, of Utica, passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at his home in Utica.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 10, from 2:00pm until 3:30pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 3:30pm with Chaplain Joe Nasvytis officiating. The family asks for everyone to wear their favorite Bears or union apparel to the funeral ceremonies. Cremation rites will be entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Thomas was born September 2, 1952, in Ottawa, IL, to Thomas and Rosemary (Corrigan) Varney. He lived in Eaton Rapids, Michigan at the VFW National Home for Children from the age of 4 until 13. He then returned to Ottawa and attended Ottawa High School. He married Rose Biffany on October 13, 1979 in Ottawa, IL.

He worked for Unimin Corporation for 40 years and was a member of the United Steelworkers Union, Local 31G. He was an avid union supporter and Chicago Bears fan. He enjoyed fishing and traveling, especially his trips to Galena and the Caribbean. He liked food, especially his wife's pasta. Above all, he loved his family, and would attend as many of their sporting events as he could.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Varney; his children, Krissy (Juan) Diaz, Dina (Barry) Baxter, Lisa (Raul) Varney, and Nick (Beth) Wallace; his grandchildren, Collin, Casey, Ben, Evan, Nathan, Alaina, and Kylee; his great grandson, Jackson; as well as his sister in laws, Mary Wright, Marge Biffany, and Kay Biffany.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rosemary; his sisters, Sheila Schwarzbach, Colleen Huron, and Loretta Varney; his brothers in law, Gino, Julian, and Felix Biffany; and his sisters in law, Dina (Ed) Whitney and Lucy (Bob) Cunningham.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the VFW National Home for Children or to his family to be distributed to causes that were important to Thomas.