Thomas Eugene Starr

Thomas Eugene Starr died on Sept. 11th, 2025, after an almost 5 year struggle with cancer.

Tom was born to Edward and Betty Starr, Nov. 17th 1949, and had, in his words an idyllic childhood in Moline with sister Linda Burress and a large extended family of aunts (Sherry Brasher), uncles, and cousins and loved visiting, working on their farms and riding and breaking horses.

As a teen Tom drove his friends around in his convertible creating a little mayhem and much fun especially with best friend Jason Pettit (Kris). Tom married Laurel Lori Bennett (his Lor) and had two children, Trisha and Brett (Tammy, Jack, Layla, Ben) and the three of them were his whole world and he was devoted to them with an always calm quiet presence.

He had much patience while teaching his children and the Carbon Cliff neighborhood how to ride a bike, run barefoot on rocks, the best way to walk a dog, or draw a perfect copy of a cartoon character.

Tom loved his work as a tool and dye designer and CAD designer at Case IH in Bettendorf, freelance work for John Deere, Montgomery Elevator, and retired from AllSteel in 2021.

Tom had a kind and generous spirit and was always willing to help friends, family, and strangers alike. His reply to every request big or small was, “Piece of Cake!” with a big infectious smile that mostly hid from the camera but always lit his face with every greeting.

He loved walking his dogs, visiting with neighbors, and lived to tell stories about his fur family, from his childhood Inky, Barney, Tyke, Buddy and Foxy. He was their unwavering companion as much as they were his.

He will be missed by all his much-loved family and friends but they know his faithful heart belonged to God and he is now celebrating in heaven with the many who went before him.

Memorial Service with luncheon to follow will be at his life-long church First Evangelical Free of Moline, IL on Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.