Born on October 8, 1928, Joseph Tomko grew up in the shadows of the church he loved.  The youngest of eight children of George and Julia Tomko, Joe never strayed far from the church of his birth or the faith that sustained him throughout his life. 

 

Hired by Fr. John Lefko, Joe served under five pastors.  As head of maintenance from 1948 to 1992, Joe was responsible for the care of the entire parish complex.  From maintenance and repairs to carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, Joe diligently worked to keep the parish facilities in working order. 

 

From the school and the convent, to the church and rectory; from the boiler room and workshop, to the gymnasium and the Panel Room, Joe could be found working to keep the parish facilities running smoothly.  Checking the boiler before retiring for the night or plowing snow well before dawn was just part of the job for Joe.  He cared for the church and the parish like they were his home, and he took great pride in his work.

 

Joe’s friendly smile and wave of the hand greeted schoolchildren, nuns, parishioners, and priests for over forty years.  His handyman skills were well-known, and he was frequently called upon to fix a problem or complete a renovation project for many in the community.  Joe lived a life of stewardship and generously shared his time and talents with our parish, his family, and his many friends.

 

Among his many duties, Joe’s favorite was having the privilege of preparing the new fire at the Easter Vigil with Fr. Ed Homco at the front door of the church each year.  Like St. Joseph, Joe cared for the house of the Lord as a humble and faithful servant all the days of his life. 

 

Married to his wife, Marilyn, for fifty-three years, Joe was the proud father of five daughters and thirteen grandchildren.  His greatest joy was found in his family.  In retirement, Joe enjoyed woodworking and was an avid White Sox fan all his life.  His goodness and his memory live on in his family and friends and in the parish he called his home.