Hainesville police chief remembered for commitment
Be it lending a hand with a project or mentoring kids in a youth camp, Tom Madole's life was one of investment.
The former Mundelein police officer and Hainesville police chief was remembered Tuesday for his commitment to family and community and an ever-present willingness to help. About 100 mourners attended a funeral service at United Methodist Church in Libertyville for Madole, 81, who died Thursday from injuries received in a car crash.
"Tom planted himself in the communities of Libertyville, Mundelein and Hainesville," Rev. Jamison Geiger said during the funeral service.
"He has enriched us. Tom Madole invested his life in his family, his children, his grandchildren, his community and service organizations in this area. He gave his all."
A career police officer, Madole served 29 years on the Mundelein police force, retiring in 1987 as a lieutenant. He then became chief of police in Hainesville and was president of the Illinois Police Association in the mid-1990s.
In his professional life, Madole at times displayed an authoritative exterior.
But that wasn't who he was on the inside, Geiger said.
"Tom had that kind of presence but his children knew he was softer than that," Geiger said.
Madole also was active with the Sherwood Youth Camp in central Illinois and a supporter of the Special Olympics.
As a child cried during the service and was taken to another area, Geiger said the disturbance "wouldn't have troubled him at all."
His sister, Cleo Melendy, told Geiger that her brother could always be counted on to respond. His son, Tim, told Geiger his father just wanted to help.
"My dad wanted to be a hero to somebody and he has been," Geiger quoted Tim Madole as saying.
"He has opened his heart and his life and his resources to help others. He has been a gift and this day is meant to honor that gift," Geiger added.
An example was when his brother, Jim, wanted to build a garage, Geiger said.
"Sure enough, Tom shows up with a trailer load of stuff with most of the fixings' to build a garage and a willingness to help." It was complete in two days.
Known as a pack rat who never saw a garage sale he didn't like, Madole also had quite a collection of items.
"People will tell you if you ever needed something you should ask Tom Madole because he probably had it," Geiger recounted.
"People knew that if you asked him to do something and he said, `Yes,' it was done."
Survivors include two daughters, Patricia (Alvin) Roberts of Tennessee; Pam (Steve) Ross of Lindenhurst; and a son, Timothy (Lana) Madole of Genoa City, Wis.; a sister, Cleo Melendy of Libertyville; brothers James (Blanche) Madole of Toluca, Ill. and William (Myrle) Madole of Libertyville; nine grandchildren; many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Kathy Madole and a goddaughter, Carla Melendy.