Thomas Owen Dill

Nov. 20, 1953 - Feb. 24, 2007

IMPERIAL?-- Thomas 'Tom' Owen Dill, 53, died Saturday (Feb. 24, 2007), at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.

He was born Nov. 20,1953, in Lincoln to Thomas E. and Eleanor M. (Jesse) Dill. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1972, and went on to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees majoring in range management, ruminant nutrition, and wildlife management. He continued his education at Oregon State University, receiving his PhD in 1991.

While receiving his education, he married Margaret J. (Maggie) Cahill in St. Edward on Jan. 4,1975. The couple settled in Lincoln. In 1983, they moved to Stapleton where he was a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator for Logan and McPherson Counties. In 1986, he served as a UNL Extension Educator for Cherry County in Valentine.

In 1991, they moved to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, where he was the head of the Grazing and Pasture Technology Program, he headed the Department Provincial Program in Regina, Saskatchewan and in 1996, he was employed by Ducks Unlimited of Canada.

The family moved to Imperial in 1997, where he was the UNL Extension Educator for Chase, Dundy, Hayes, and Hitchcock Counties.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Imperial. He was also a member of the Knights' of Columbus, Council 97081, of Imperial where he served many offices including Grand Knight and was a past member of the Society of Range Management and Boy's Scouts of American.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas E. Dill; grandparents, Frank and Bess Jesse, Harry and Lena Bickner, and John Dill; father-in-law, Leo Cahill; and brother-in-law, Michael Cahill.

Survivors Include his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Dill of Imperial; his mother, Eleanor Dill of Alliance; daughters, Jesse Dill and Kenny Jones of Imperial, Michelle Dill and fiancee, Taylor May of Imperial; sisters, Mary Ireland and husband, Bill of Alliance nd Cyndia Gray and husband, Doug of Garden City, Kan.; sisters-in-law, Terri Carlston of Las Vegas, Nev., Sheila Cahill of Lincoln and Mary Jeanne Cahill of Long Beach, Calif.; brothers-in-law, Kent Cahill and wife, Becky of Deshler and Tim Cahill of St. Edward; mother-in-law, Jeanne Cahill of St. Edward; and one granddaughter.

A Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, 10 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial, with the Rev. Mark Seiker officiating.

Visitation is today until 6 p.m., at Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial with the rosary to be recited at 7 p.m., at the church.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial is in charge of arrangements.