Thomas W. Hart

Thomas W. Hart, 70, died Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, surrounded by his family.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, downtown Davenport.  The Mass will be livestreamed by visiting Thom’s obituary at St. Anthony Livestream. Visitation will be held Friday, February 9 from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, downtown Davenport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Empowering Abilities.

Thomas William Hart was born on July 27, 1953, in Davenport to Phyllis Ann (Kerper) and Stephen A. Hart Jr.  Thom grew up in a very loving and supportive family, the ninth blessing of twenty children.   Thom met Jane Domeraski at St. Ambrose College and they were married in 1976.  She preceded him in death on October 28, 2014.

Above all else, Thom loved his family and friends spending much of his life supporting, celebrating, and cheering on the accomplishments of those he loved.  Becoming a friend of Thom meant you became part of his larger extended family who were frequently on his mind, around his table, and in his prayers. A regular attendee at mass, Thom prided himself on going to mass in 17 different countries, and all 50 states-driving to all but Hawaii.  A lover of history, education, and exploration Thom and Jane took many road trips with their two children, Mary-Kathryn and Stephen, visiting 48 states as a family in addition to introducing them to the world with travel abroad.

Thom had a passion and love of Davenport and the Quad Cities for 70+ years and devoted his life to its preservation and development.  In 1973, at the age of 20 he was elected to serve as the City of Davenport’s Fourth Ward Alderman. He later served on the Scott County Board of Supervisors before being elected Mayor of Davenport in 1984, serving three terms before the City retired him.  He went on to successfully consult for the former Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company and then to the Quad-City Development Group, where his leadership continued to benefit our community, retiring in 2004.  Thom retired a third and final time in 2012 from the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  He had the honor to serve as Chair of the Scott County Democratic Party for many years and as a Commissioner for the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Those left to cherish Thom’s memory are his children: Mary-Kathryn Hart, Washington, D.C. and Stephen Hart (Ashley), Normal, Illinois; siblings: Mary Hart, Iowa City, Ann Hart Wernz (Bill), St. Paul, Minnesota, Margaret Hart (Ralph Mohr), Minneapolis, Minnesota, Therese Hart, Willimantic, Connecticut, Linda Hart, Bettendorf, Brian Hart, Des Moines, Kathy Hart (Armando Tasistro), Watkinsville, Georgia, Dan Hart, Fort Myers, Florida, Maureen Hart (Bill Schmidt), Princeton, David Hart (Mary Zabriskie), St. Louis, Missouri, Jim Hart (Lisa), Ted Hart (Anita), all of Kansas City, Missouri, Lisa Hart (Tom Abbott), Petersburg, Alaska, and Jeni Hart (Fergus Lynch), Seattle, Washington; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: David Major, New York City,  Diane Burgett (Mark), Coal Valley, and Karen Steen, Rock Island, and aunts and uncle, John and Madonna Hart and Pat Moriarty & many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his wife, Jane, Thom was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Stephen, B.J., Kevin, Michael, and Pat Hart; and in-laws Le Wirth, Sue Johnson, and Matt Steen.  May they rest in peace.