NOT FORGOTTEN

Tom. Vorbeck, 63, of Chapin, IL died August 3, 2005 at Memorial Medical Center, in Springfield, IL.

He was born October 24, 1941, in Elgin, IL the son of Edward S. and Elizabeth Acom Vorbeck. He married Jill Brunenn and she survives.

Tom grew up in Barrington, and graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston.  He had a 15 year career as a systems analyst/manager at Continental Assurance Company in Chicago. In 1977 he traded his business suit for bib overalls and became an apple grower on his mother's ancestral farm in Chapin.  Tom and his wife Jill founded Applesource, a mail order company that ships gift boxes of gourmet and antique apples nationwide. He was a respected authority on apples whose opinions on old and new apple varieties were often quoted in national media. Mr. Vorbeck enjoyed playing bridge and discussing politics. One of his greatest joys was visiting with customers. He treasured his friendships and especially valued the honesty, helpfulness, and wisdom of the people he encountered.

 

Tom developed a staph infection that destroyed two of his heart valves.  After weeks of  antibiotic treatments in preparation for heart surgery, surgeons inserted two artificial heart valves to replace the faulty ones. He died after the surgery