Richard Anthony TOMKE

TOMKE, NOONAN, YODER, HINRICHSEN, SEVERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

Richard Anthony Tomke
August 11, 1920 — August 29, 2009

Richard A. "Dick" Tomke passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, August 29, 2009, at Wright Medical Center, Clarion, ironically his hometown and place of birth on August 11, 1920, the son of Postmaster Richard A. and Sophie Tomke. Dick graduated from Clarion High School in 1938. He always enjoyed telling his children and grandchildren about being Clarions outstanding football player in his day. Judge Newt Draheim verified this information in his recently published book "Ordinary Heroes," noting Dick "was a super-fast ball carrier" and "scoring the only touchdown in the last football game against Mason City." Upon high school graduation, he attended and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque in 1942. Dick joined the U.S. Army on January 23, 1943, serving as 1st Lt. Special Agent for the 970th Counter Intelligence Corps in Normandy. Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged on October 25, 1945, and made his home in Eagle Grove.

On September 1, 1947, he was united in marriage to Annabelle Noonan at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eagle Grove. After his marriage, he began working at Noonan's Jewelry with his father-in-law, long-time businessman, M. E. (Maurie) Noonan. Dick later purchased a share of the jewelry store, becoming Noonan & Tomke Jewelry. He remained in business with brother-in-law, James P. Noonan and later with son, Tony, closing in 2002, after over 50 years in business. An avid golfer for many years, always reminding his children and grandchildren being introduced as Dick Tomke - "World's Greatest Golfer." Upon retiring from the "lynx," he could be found in front of his large flat-screen TV with surround sound, watching golf, AND we can't forget the Iowa Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed being a long-time member of the Coffee Club where he was always in charge of their game.

One of his greatest joys, as well as his wife, Annabelle, was being a grandparent and being in attendance at their athletic events. Watching his grandsons wrestle was much too nerve-racking, so he was there for football (always being welcomed at the Belmond Gridiron Club) and track meets, while Annabelle never missed a wrestling meet or tournament as well as all other school events their grandchildren were involved in.

He will definitely be missed by his children: Nancy (John Yoder, Johnston) and their children, Cory and son, Triston (Belmond), Colby (spouse, Candi) and their children Cedric, Caelor, Cinnik, and Cambrie; Jan and Dale Hinrichsen (Coralville), and their daughter, Jenna (Los Angeles, Calif.); Terrence (Terry) (spouse, Lynn, (Alamogordo, N.M.), and their children, Molly (Alamogordo) and Maurie (Boston, Mass.); Richard Anthony Tomke III (Tony) (Eagle Grove), an extremely loving and caring son, taking care of Dick the eight years after Annabelle's death, and his children, Sarah (Mrs. Tyler Severson (Pocahontas) and their daughter. Gracie, plus children, Connor and Toni (Eagle Grove).

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and three brothers, and one sister.

The family will be seeing friends on Saturday, September 12, at 9 to 10:15 a.m., in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Eagle Grove, followed by a short graveside service.

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, September 10, 2009

source ---- Eileen Reed