Tomasek, F.W. 1906-1984

TOMASEK, JONES, EVANS, FREITER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/15/2010 at 08:03:56

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; March 19, 1984

F.W. TOMASEK SERVICES TODAY

Francis W. (Tommy) Tomasek, 77, of 709 Tenth Ave., a widely respected trial lawyer, died of a heart attack Wednesday evening, March 14, at his home.

Funeral services for Mr. Tomasek will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. today at the United Church of Christ-Congregational. The Rev. Philip J. Ramstad, pastor of the church, will officiate, and eulogist will be Glenn Leggett. Organist will be Deanna Acrea.

Pallbearers will be Paul Van Roekel, Albert C. Eisenman, Benjamin F. Graham, Donald W. Lambie, Christian T. Nielsen and Bill D. Weeks.

Honorary bearers will be Lawrence G. Keeney, Ralph Goeldner, Hugh C. McLeery, Albert J. Pinder, Harris R. Stafford, Wayne B. Denny, Clark L. Watkins and Charles P. Vogel.

Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery. An F.W. Tomasek Memorial Fund has been established, and donations may be left at the Smith Funeral Home.

OBITUARY

The son of Frank W. and Ella Jones Tomasek, he was born Dec. 27, 1906, at Williamsburg. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Iowa in 1919 and his doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1931.

Mr. Tomasek came to Grinnell in 1931 and, with Charles P. Vogel, co-founded the law firm of Tomasek and Vogel. He served two terms as Poweshiek County attorney from 1943 to 1947.

Mr. Tomasek was a member of the American Bar Association, the 8th Judicial District Bar Association and the Poweshiek County Bar Association. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Iowa State Bar Association and served as president of the association in 1973.

He served as a director of the American Judicature Society, the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. In 1976 he was selected as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Mr. Tomasek served for many years as legal counsel for the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District and for Farm Mutuals of the Midwest. He was former Poweshiek County Republican chairman and was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956. He was a past governor and lieutenant governor of the Iowa/Nebraska District of Kiwanis International.

In 1970, he served as chairman of the Citizens' Conference on Iowa Courts, which led to the reorganization of the state's court system, including the elimination of justices of the peace, the establishment of judical magistrates, merit selection of judges and the establishment of small-claims courts.

Mr. Tomasek was a former moderator of the Iowa Conference of Congregational Christian Churches and served as a deacon of the United Church of Christ-Congregational here. He was also a former member of the church's board of trustees and was active in the planning of the Mayflower Home.

He was a 50-year member of the Fortnightly Club and was active in Masonic and Shrine circles.

Survivors include his wife the former Ethel E. Evans, whom he married on Oct. 5, 1935, at Williamsburg; two children, John D. Tomasek of Saltville, Va., and Miriam Ann Freiter of Kingwood, Texas; and two grandchildren.