Memorial service scheduled for former Des Plaines Alderman Tom Becker
A memorial service will be held Saturday for former Des Plaines Alderman Tom Becker.
Becker, 64, represented the city's 6th Ward from 1999 to 2007. He died Friday.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines. The service will follow at the same location.
A Chicago native, Becker served two terms as alderman in Des Plaines. He sat on several committees, including public safety, community development and engineering, and he led the community development committee from 2001 to 2007.
Becker was among the officials who worked hard to bring Rivers Casino to Des Plaines, recalled 5th Ward Alderman Carla Brookman. The casino opened in 2011, after Becker left office, but a lot of the work to secure the deal was done during his tenure, she said.
"That never would have become a reality without Tom Becker," Brookman said.
Brookman and other city officials shared kind words about Becker at the start of Monday's city council meeting. Mayor Andrew Goczkowski called Becker "very genuine and a very nice person."
Current 6th Ward Alderman Malcolm Chester said Becker served "in an outstanding capacity."
"He's much beloved by the residents in my ward," Chester said.
Professionally, Becker was a Realtor, and he worked for the Peerless Fence Group.
He loved animals, too.
Becker's survivors include: his wife, Valerie; children Tori, Mark and Nicole; four grandchildren; and a brother.
Instead of flowers, donations can be sent to Roll Over Animal Rescue, 1750 Estes Ave., Des Plaines, IL, 60018. They can also be sent via PayPal to roar4dogs@gmail.com.