Jerry Tomjack

Funeral services for Jerry Tomjack, 95, of Ewing, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 23, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing, with Father John Norman officiating.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 22, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing, with a 7 p.m. wake service. Burial will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, with military rites by Sanders American Legion Post 214.

Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling the arrangements.

Jerry died Aug. 15, 2024, at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, surrounded by family.

Condolences may be directed to his family at http://www.snidermemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ewing Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

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Joseph (Jerry) Jerome Tomjack was July 25, 1928, in Eugene, Oregon. At age four, he and his mother, Frances, moved to Nebraska to make their home with her parents, Mike and Sophie Tomjack. He attended grade school in Ewing through fourth grade and Emmet through eighth grade. He returned to Ewing his freshman year and finished high school at St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, graduating in 1947. He played football and basketball all through high school.

He worked at Harding Creamery during high school and one year in Omaha. It was fascinating to hear him talk about the huge vats of butter they made and packaged and the electric bike he bought to ride back to Ewing

In 1949, he enlisted in the US Army – 14th Regimental Combat Team stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado. The team specialized in mountain and winter training, which involved some mountain fire fighting. He was honorably discharged in 1950 to come home to run Shaw Oil for seven years when his stepfather (Clarence Shaw) died. He then owned and operated a gas transport business, leasing to Ruan, traveling many miles on Hwy 20 delivering to small stations from Sioux City to Cody.

On June 16, 1953, he married Jeanette Taylor after meeting at the Neligh roller rink. They had four children – Kathi, Steve, Jeff and Mike. They were married 68 years.

Jerry served 25 years on the Ewing Village Board, 12 years as mayor, and also served on the Holt County Board of Supervisors and was a member of St. Peter’s Church Parish Council. Jerry and Jeanette also built and operated a drive-in restaurant for seven years.

In 1988, after 35 years in Ewing, Jerry and Jeanette moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they were employed by Don and Jill Switzenberg. They were only there two years but remained lifelong friends. In 1990, the Tomjacks returned to Nebraska to be closer to family as grandchildren entered the world. They were employed at the Kensington in Norfolk until Jerry started working as maintenance supervisor at Beverly Healthcare in Norfolk and was there 10 years. He also was a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. They enjoyed camping trips with the Valley Vagabond’s and Sam’s camping clubs and moved back to Ewing to spend their retirement years with dear friends.

He enjoyed many things. Foremost was family. They traveled many miles supporting grandkids in all their activities. He also enjoyed painting, woodworking, golf, gardening, camping, traveling, Nebraska football games, coffee with his buddies and playing cards. He was a faithful participant reciting the rosary.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Kathi (Rich) Rethwisch of Wayne; sons, Dr. Jeff (Kim) Tomjack of Lincoln and Mike (Chris) Tomjack of Bennington; grandchildren, Cali (Cody) Guffey, Gage (Jaclynn) Rethwisch, Luke (Savannah) Rethwisch, Ben and Josh Tomjack, Marisa (Josh) Pace, Jadyn, Reece, Brett and Eric Tomjack; great-grandchildren, Knox, Easton and Miles Rethwisch, Josiah Pace and new babies Pace and Rethwisch due in December; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by wife, Jeanette, nine-year-old son, Stephen; parents and grandparents; half-brother, Grover Shaw; stepbrother, Robert Knapp, his wife Lois and daughter Pam; brother and sister-in law Merv and Phyllis Murray; and Dave Murray.