Dr. Thomas L Sims Jr

Thomas L. Sims, Jr., age 49, of Willowbrook, Illinois, husband of Silvia Daina Heise Sims, passed into the presence of his Lord on August 16th, 2025. Thomas was born on May 4, 1976, in Greenville, South Carolina, to Thomas L. Sims, Sr. and Marilyn K. Sims. 

Thomas is survived by his wife and their four children: three daughters, Ashlyn Elizabeth Alida (17), Caroline Grace Adele (16), and Madison Elise Anna (12), and one son, Joshua Thomas Richard (6) all of Willowbrook, IL; his parents of Charleston, SC; one sister Kathryn S. Pringle (Nathaniel) of Cincinnati, OH; one brother Ethan K. Sims (Isabelle) of Houston, TX; and 7 nieces and 2 nephews. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Newton L. Sims and Geneva H. G. Sims; his maternal grandparents Ernest Koger and Annie L. M. Koger; and a sister-in-law Emily J. Sims.

Thomas will be remembered for his heart to serve the Lord and others. From that desire, his passions in life focused upon medicine and missions. Thomas served on medical missions trips to Bangladesh and Honduras. He partnered with pediatric surgeons in various countries in Africa and Asia, seeking to help improve the surgical care offered to children everywhere. Thomas was actively involved in various church ministries throughout his life. In medicine, he was also dedicated to educating and training the next generation of medical students and residents in surgery. He loved teaching, and was grateful for the many excellent teachers and colleagues who had invested in him. On a personal note, he enjoyed soccer from the US National team to his son Joshua's team; he loved history and he loved to read, although his reading had shifted mostly to audio books which probably made his long commute more enjoyable; and he loved his family and friends, often putting their needs and desires above his own. Most of all, Thomas strove to use his skills, knowledge, and talents to bring honor and glory to God.

A service to honor Thomas' life will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Marquette Manor Baptist Church, 333 75th St. Downers Grove, IL 60516, at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Clarendon Hills Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to gather and celebrate his memory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Thomas' honor to Medical Missions Outreach at https://medical-outreach.com/donate-form or to the Thomas Sims Memorial Fund, which will be directed toward his children's education, c/o Thom Lobe, MD, Department of Surgery, 840 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612.

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