Obit: Tomkowiak, Ervin M. #2 (1926 - 2004)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Tomkowiak, Hodorowski, Ziehl, Krohn, Klute, Hoffman, Crazek, Werner

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, WI.) April 28, 2004

Tomkowiak, Ervin M. (November 12, 1926 - April22, 2004)

Ervin M Tomkowiak, age 77, of Loyal, died on April 22, 2004 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

A celebration of Ervin’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal with Reverend Daniel E. Zimmerman officiating. Burial will follow in the Loyal Lutheran Cemetery. Special music will be provided by Justin Klute and honorary pallbearers will be Curtis Tomkowiak, Brandon Krohn, Nathan Krohn and Matthew Tomkowiak.

Ervin’s family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Wednesday.

Ervin M Tomkowiak was born on November 12, 1926 in Thorp, Wisconsin, the son of John and Anna (Hodorowski) Tomkowiak. He attended school at the Poppy School and then attended Withee High School. He and his brother hopped freights and went west to work various harvest seasons following his education. He then worked for the railroad and the Chainbelt Foundry in Milwaukee. Ervin met Evelyn Ziehl, and the couple married September 24, 1949 in Milwaukee. In 1951, the couple moved to a farm north of Loyal where they raised their children and farmed together 41 years. He loved to hunt and fish, play dart ball and square dance. He enjoyed gardening, gambling and gathering with friends for cards. In 1991 the couple retired and moved to a hobby farm where they currently reside. He was member of Trinity Lutheran Church and their dart ball team and served on various boards. He was a caretaker of the Loyal Lutheran Cemetery for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years: Evelyn Tomkowiak of Loyal, and their children: Robert (Roxanne) Tomkowiak of Marshfield, Judy (Jeffrey) Krohn of Marshfield, Todd (Debbie) Tomkowiak of Plover, seven grandchildren: Elizabeth (Justin) Klute of Madison, Curtis Tomkowiak of Wausau, Brandon (fiancé Theresa Hoffman) Krohn, Nathan Krohn and Danielle Krohn, all of Marshfield, and Matthew Tomkowiak and Aileena Tomkowiak, both of Plover. He is further survived by one brother: Florian (Lorraine) Tomkowiak of Cudahy and one sister: Christine (Leonard) Crazek of Greendale.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Delores Werner.

Ervin was a loving husband and father who loved to tease everyone. He was a fun-filled grandpa and a true farmer at heart. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. We love you, Dad and Grandpa; we will miss you.

Memorials in Ervin’s name will be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal.