Obituary of George Tomasak

George Tomasak Jr., 77, of Edwardsville, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at home surrounded by his loving family following a two-year courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Edwardsville, he was a son of the late George and Stella Pesta Tomasak Sr. He was a graduate of Larksville High School, Class of 1949. He served in the United States Navy on the USS Norfolk during the Korean War. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by Local 542 International Union of Operating Engineers as a heavy-equipment operator, and was the treasurer of Local 542 Credit Union for 45 years. He was a former Edwardsville councilman. He was a member of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Kingston; Catholic War Veterans, Post 752; Korean War Veterans Association of Wyoming Valley; and Woodward Hill Hose Co. No. 4 of the Edwardsville Fire Department, where he was treasurer for the past 25 years. He was preceded in death by sister, Stella Duffy; and grandson, Brian. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, the former Dorothy Tomascik; son, George J. Tomasak and wife, Beverly, of Edwardsville; daughter, Debra Skurkis and husband, Joseph; grandchildren, Stephen Tomasak and wife, Kim; Melanie Usher and husband, Charles; Joseph A. Skurkis, Lori Skurkis; sisters, Helen Ann Schultz, Kingston; Rosemarie Kochinski, Edwardsville, as well as nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the Betz-Jastremski Funeral Home Inc., 568 Bennett St., Luzerne, with Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Kingston, with the Rev. Mykhaylo Prozanet officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery, Pringle. Friends may call today from 6 to 9 p.m. The family would like to thank Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia; Dr. Crystal Denlinger, Brenda Strzempkowski, RN, BSN, and all of his nurses in the CRU, where he volunteered to be put in a new pancreatic cancer clinical drug trial. A very special thank you to Meg Zych, R.N., of Gentiva Home Health Care of Wilkes-Barre, for all of her love and kindness over the past year. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.