Victor C. Tomka

VisitationWednesday, November 7, 2007after 2:30 p.m.Rosary 4:00 p.m. ~ Knights of ColumbusVigil Service 7:00 p.m.Ohde Twit Funeral Home, Carroll

Mass of Christian BurialThursday, November 8, 200710:00 a.m.with visitation at church after 8:30 a.m.Holy Spirit Catholic Church, CarrollFr. James McCormick, officiatingConcelebrants:Fr. John Thomas, Fr. Siby, Fr. Jerry, and Fr. Dominic

Interment with Military HonorsSt. John Cemetery, Arcadia, IowaEhlers-Gerken Post #694 of the Arcadia American Legion and4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus

Lectors

Todd Phillipe and Shirley Tomka

Gift Bearers and Prayers of Intercession

(Granddaughters) Mary Lappe, Nancy Bissmeyer, Jenny Phillipe, Sara Nielsen,

Julie Tomka, Maria Lueken, Mandy Malone, Eleanor Malone, Margo Tomka,

Madeline Tomka, Christine Kemper

Casket Bearers

(Grandsons) Nick Phillipe, Joe Tomka, Mike Tomka, Max Malone, Andy Tomka, Pat Tomka, Peter Tomka,

           and Peter Kemper           

            Victor was born May 22, 1926 in Stanton County, Nebraska to Jerry Tomka Sr. and Anna (Sindelar) Tomka.  He died early Sunday, November 4, 2007 at his home in Carroll, Iowa from complications of cancer.

            He graduated from Pilger High School in 1944 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July of 1944 and served until 1946.  He was a corporal during World War II and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.  Following the end of the war he attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on a football scholarship.  He also worked in retail marketing and insurance in the Omaha area until being recalled in the US Air Force in 1950 and served as a staff sergeant until 1951 during the Korean War. 

            Victor married Mary Catherine Glass on September 9, 1950 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska.  He started farming in the Arcadia, Iowa area in 1953.  He operated a grain farm and livestock feeding operation on the family century farm.  Following his retirement in 1995 he helped with planning and construction of the Iowa Corn Processors plant near Glidden, Iowa.  At the time of his death he was working on developing the Carroll Area Wind Farms near Templeton, Iowa.

He was a member of Holy Spirit Parish, Kuemper School Board, long term member of the Finance Council for St. John Parish in Arcadia, Iowa; 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus,  50 year member of Ehlers-Gerken Post #694 of the Arcadia American Legion, and the Serra Club for vocations. 

Victor was a member of Carroll County Beef Producers, American Corn Growers, Charter member of the National Cattlemens Association, and Carroll County Democrats.

He enjoyed visiting with his family, friends, golfing, fishing, playing cards, driving his hybrid car and loved to travel including overseas.

Victor Tomka was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Catherine Tomka in 1996, son Jim Tomka in 2007, granddaughter Liz Tomka in 2000,  brother Jerry Tomka, sister Rita Agnes Tomka and two brothers-in-law Maurice Glass and Norbert Lenz.

            He is survived by daughters Barb Phillipe and husband Todd of Buena Vista, Colorado; Cathy Malone of Ramona, California; Carole Tomka of Des Moines, Iowa; Mary Ann Kemper and husband John of Temecula, California; sons Victor J. Tomka and wife Shirley of Carroll; and Ed Tomka and wife Joni of Carroll; daughter-in-law Teresa Adams Tomka of Des Moines, Iowa;  23 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; sisters Mariann Lenz and Anna Mae Tomka of Omaha, Nebraska; a sister-in-law Irma (Glass) Grote of Carroll; and many nieces and nephews