William Tomko

William Tomko, 93, of Mountainside, passed away on March 21, 2017 at his residence, surrounded by his family. Viewing will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 from 4 to 8 PM at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. www.higginsandbonner.com A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 9:30 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church in Mountainside.  Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Mr. Tomko was employed by William Blanchard Co. in Springfield where he worked as superintendent and project manager for many large projects throughout New Jersey. He was Business Manager and Secretary/Treasurer of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman Locals No. 13 and 16 in Newark.  Mr. Tomko was also a Special Deputy for the International Union of Bricklayers of Washington, DC. A Navy veteran of World War II, he was a Purple Heart Recipient Mr. Tomko participated in the invasion of Sicily and Salerno where many of his shipmates were killed and wounded when a German bomb struck their ship, the USS Barnett. He went on to participate in the invasion of southern France before taking part in the invasion of Normandy at D-Day.  Mr. Tomko also served in the Pacific Theatre, When the USS Barnett, already damaged and repaired many times, was sent to participate in the Battle of Okinawa.  While in the pacific, his ship was struck by a kamikaze. In 2012, Mr. Tomko was invited by the President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, to the French Embassy in New York City to receive The French Legion of Honor. This is the highest military decoration bestowed in France. He also received the 50th Anniversary Battle of Normandy Medal, NJ Distinguished Medal, European Medal, WW II D-Day Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, four battle stars as well as many other commendations.  Mr. Tomko was also instrumental in getting the Veteran’s Memorial erected in Mountainside. He was a life-time charter member of V.F.W. Post 10136 of Mountainside, a life-time member of American Legion Post 155 in Whippany and life-time member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart of Union County, Chapter 28 of Cranford. Born in Whippany, he attended Newark College of Engineering and attended sessions at Notre Dame University.  He moved to Mountainside in 1956.  Mr. Tomko was an avid golfer and a member since 1962 of Metuchen Country Club.  He was predeceased by his son, Gary Tomko and eleven brothers and sisters. Mr. Tomko is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maria (Konoba) Tomko, his daughter, Karen Heilmann and her husband Herb, his sons, Jeff and his wife, Lori and Michael and his wife, Mary, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and his sister, Olga Weizel.  Although flowers are welcome, donations in his memory may be made to The Mountainside Veteran’s Memorial c/o V.F.W. Post 10136, P. O. Box 1163, Mountainside, NJ 07092

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