JOE TOMCALA
1921 - 2007
Josef “Joe” Tomcala, beloved husband of Elizabeth Tomcala, of Taber passed away at the Taber Hospital Palliative Care Unit on Friday, September 14, 2007 at the age of 86 years.
Along side his loving wife Elizabeth of more than 56 years Joe will be remembered by his children Annie, of Medicine Hat; Mary Jane, of Calgary; son Frank (Laurie) and their children, “Dedo’s” precious grandchildren, Ryan, Greg, Chelsea, Andrew, Bryce, Olivia, and Elley of Canora, Saskatchewan. Joe will also be fondly remembered by his very close and dear brothers and sisters-in-law, numerous nephews and nieces in both Canada and Czechoslovakia, neighbours and friends. Joe was predeceased by his parents George and Marie Tomcala of Taber; sister Anna (Jaraoslav) Matejicek, and brother Martin (Maria) Tomcala both in Czecholslovakia.
Joe was born, January 5, 1921, in Suchov, Czechoslovakia. After completing his schooling he accompanied his mother, and immigrated to Canada in August 1938 to join his father who had already settled in the Barnwell/Cranford area. He arrived just in time to help with the harvest. This began his love and passion for the business of irrigation farming and raising cattle. In 1940 he broke farmland just northeast of Taber. In 1950 he married Elizabeth Prus and together with his family he continued to farm. Throughout the years Joe worked hard to advance his farming and cattle operations. In 1988, it was time to slow down so Joe and Elizabeth moved into the town of Taber, retiring from active farming in 2001. He relished in watching his grandchildren grow, was supportive in their many activities and education, and dearly loved having them near.
Joe enjoyed the adventure of traveling with his family to many parts of Alberta, Canada, and the US. He fulfilled a promise to return to his homeland, and so in 1983 he was finally able to visit with his family and reconnect with many friends. Dad and to many “Uncle Joe” was a gracious host to all visitors and he enjoyed sharing stories of life’s experiences. Many marveled at his ability to recall the details. Dad cherished all get togethers with his family and friends. He was proud to be a member of the Czech-Slovak Club treasuring the cultural traditions by attending many besedas, picnics and dances. In recent years he took care of the garden, drove to check out the farm, took care of the errands for Mom and stopped at the Seniors Centre to enjoy a round of cards and conversation with friends. Dad enjoyed everyday; everyday was a good day.
Relatives and friends are invited for Prayers at the Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. with Reverend Mariusz Sztuk SDS Celebrant. Burial to follow at the Taber Memorial Garden. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Joe’s name may be made to the Taber Hospital Foundation 4326 – 50 Ave Taber, AB T1G 1N9.
Note: Here is a Slovak translation provided by Elizabeth Tomcala's cousin Helen, who is a translator by profession in Europe.
Josef “Joe” Tomcala, milovaný manžel Elizabeth Tomcalovej z Taber, zomrel v Nemocnici paliatívnej starostlivosti v piatok 14.septembra vo veku 86 rokov.
Okrem jeho manželky Elizabeth, s ktorou prežil v manželstve viac ako 56 rokov, Joe zostane v pamäti svojich deti: Annie z Medicine Hat; Mary Jane z Calgary; syna Franka (a jeho manželky Laurie) s demi, “dedovými” milovanými vnúèatami, Ryanom, Gregom, Chelsea, Andrewom, Bryceom, Oliviou, and Elley z Canory, Saskatchewan. Na Joe takisto nezabudnú jemu ve¾mi blízki švagrovia a švagriny, mnoho synovcov a neterí v Kanade aj v Èesko-Slovensku. Josefa predišli do veènosti jeho rodièia Juraj a Marie Tomcalovi z Taber, sestra Anna (Jaroslav) Matejièkovci a brat Martin (Maria) Tomcala, obaja z Èesko-Slovenska.
Joe sa narodil 5. januára 1921 v Suchove v Èeskoslovensku. Po skonèení školy odišiel so svojou matkou do Kanady v auguste 1938 kde nasledovali svojho otca, ktorý sa usadil v oblasti Barnwell/Cranford. Prišiel práve vèas, aby zaèal pomáha so žatvou. Tak zaèala jeho láska a oddanos k práci na farme a k chovu dobytka. V roku 1940 získal pôdu severovýchodne od mesta Taber. V r.1950 sa oženil s Elizabeth (Alžbetou) Prusovou a spolu s jej rodinou pokraèoval v práci na farme. Poèas mnohých rokov Joe tvrdo pracoval, aby zlepšil po¾nohospodárske práce a chov dobytka. V r.1988 nastal èas spomali a Joe s Elizabeth sa presahovali do mesta Taber, a aktívnu prácu na farme ukonèil v r.2001. S radosou sledoval ako rastú jeho vnúèatá, ktoré podporoval v mnohých aktivitách a vo vzdelaní a ve¾mi sa tešil ich blízkosti.
Joe ve¾mi rád cestoval so svojou rodinou do mnohých èastí provincie Alberta v Kanade a do USA. Splnil svoj s¾úb, že sa vráti do svojho rodiska a tak koneène v roku 1983 sa mu podarilo navštívi svojich príbuzných a skontaktova sa s mnohými priate¾mi. Tata a pre mnohých “strýko Joe (Jozef)“ bol vïaèným hostite¾om pre všetky návštevy a ve¾mi rád sa podelil so životnými príbehmi a svojimi skúsenosami. Mnohí žasli nad jeho schopnosou spomenú si na rôzne detaily. Mal rád všetko èo spájalo jeho rodinu a priate¾ov. Bol hrdý, že je èlenom Èesko-Slovenského klubu, zachovával kultúrne tradície a navštívil mnoho besied, piknikov a zábav. V posledných rokoch sa staral o záhradu, išiel autom skontrolova farmu, staral sa o mamine záležitostí a rád sa zastavil aj v Seniorskom centre na partiu kariet a porozpráva sa s kamarátmi. Tata mal rád každý deò a každý deò bol pre neho dobrým dòom.
Pozývame príbuzných a priate¾ov k modlitbám do Domu smútku (kaplnky) Southland, 5006-48 Ave. v Taber, v utorok, 18.septembra, 2007 o 19:00 hodine. Pohrebná omša sa bude slúži v Rímsko-katolíckom kostole sv. Augustína, 5009 - 48th Ave, v Taber, v stredu 19. septembra, 2007 o 10:30, omšu bude celebrova Mariuiz Sztuk SDS . Následne bude pohreb v Taber Memorial Garden. Priatelia, ktorí chcú vyjadri svoju spoluúèas, môžu tak urobi na Jozefove meno v Taber Hospital Foundation 4326 – 50 Ave Taber, AB T1G 1N9.