Through more than 17 years of serving Cary as a village trustee and commission member, Thomas O. Vieweg was a strong proponent of retaining the community’s small town character.
“He respected the rights of property owners to develop, but he asked that they develop in the best interest of the community,” said Steve Lamal, acting mayor of Cary. “He was respectful of new development that paid its way.”
Mr. Vieweg, 59, of Cary died of multiple myeloma Thursday, Feb. 10, in Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in Sycamore, Ill.
In 1985, Mr. Vieweg volunteered for an appointment to the Plan Commission, then in 1986 was appointed village trustee. He ran for the position in 1987 and served two four-year terms. He lost his re-election bid in 1995 but later that year was appointed to the board by then-Mayor Sue McCabe.
“Tom was just a wonderful public servant for the village of Cary,” McCabe said. “He truly had the best interests of the community at heart.
“While there were others who might not have agreed with his position, he spoke from his heart and he spoke for many people out there. But he also had the ability to move on and accept whatever the decision was and not take it personally.”
He won another four-year term in April 1997. He lost his last re-election bid in 2001 by fewer than 10 votes to Yvonne Barnes, who became a close friend.
“He was always concerned about the current state of Cary and looked toward the future and expanding programs without affecting taxpayers negatively,” Barnes said.
In October 2003, Lamal appointed Mr. Vieweg to the board of Zoning, Planning and Appeals and he remained a member of that commission until his death.
Born in Hammond, Mr. Vieweg grew up in Plymouth, Ind., where he graduated from high school. In 1968, a year after he received his bachelor’s of science degree from Purdue University, he was drafted into the Army and began a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam, where he worked in Army intelligence.
Upon his return, he earned his master’s of business administration from Indiana University.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Vieweg began his long career as a golf course greenskeeper at Beverly Country Club in Chicago. He became golf course superintendent for the Cary Country Club in 1973 and stayed for 30 years.
“He just loved being outside,” said his daughter, Sarah. “He certainly had the potential to earn a lot more money, but he wanted to do what he loved to do.”
Other survivors include his wife of 29 years, Mary Ann; a son, Christopher; and a sister, Barbara Tanner.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Kahle-Moore Funeral Home, 403 Silver Lake Rd., Cary. Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 410 1st St., Cary.
