The Funeral Service for Emil Tomac, age 96 of Lemmon, will be 2:00pm Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon.  Fr Tony Grossenburg will officiate with burial in the Morristown Cemetery.

Special music will be provided by Jill Anderson, organist.

Serving as casketbearers are, Lee Tomac, Steve Tomac,  Wm. P. Tidball, Kenny Tomac, Doug Tomac, Gerald Tomac.  All grand and great grandchildren are considered Honorary Bearers.

Emil Tomac was born on November 29, 1922 at Thunder Hawk, SD, the fourth of eight children born to Anton and Anna (Vukelic) Tomac.  He grew up on the Tomac family homestead south of Morristown near the Grand River.  He attended a local country school and at an early age began herding sheep.

On June 6, 1947, Emil was united in marriage to Gertrude Anderson at Morristown, SD.  In January of 1948, they rented a place near Isabel for a year and in the fall of 1949, they returned to the Tomac homestead.  They purchased the Jake Dietterle place in 1951 where Emil and Gertie farmed and ranched together and raised their family.  Three children, Lois, Don, and Diane were born to this union.

In the fall of 1993, Emil and Gertie moved into Lemmon.  He continued to help out his son, Don on the farm planting the crops.

Emil was a self taught guitar player and played by ear for several community dances with his brother Joe.  In his younger years, he played on the Grand Valley baseball team.  He loved to watch the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers.  Emil also enjoyed bowling on a league, golfing, and working with wood.  He was the 2005 Boss Cowman during Lemmon's annual celebration.

Emil enjoyed serving on the committee of the ASC Office, and served on Sherman Township Board where he was clerk and treasurer.

Emil passed from this life on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

Surviving family members include his wife of 71 years, Gertie, Lemmon, SD; son and daughter-in-law, Don and Rhonda Tomac, Keldron, SD 2 daughters and one son-in-law, Lois Burch, Belle Fourche, SD; Diane and Dave Hussey, Oral, SD; 6 grandchildren, Travis (Beckie) Hussey, Spring (Charlie) Worden, Shannon Tomac, Becky Tomac, Robyn (Garrett) Schweitzer, Joelle (Tyler) Erickson, 6 great grandchildren, Brandon Hussey, Skylar Worden, Cooper Worden, Hadley Schweitzer, Jensen Schweitzer, and Aissatau Thiam; one brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Lorraine Tomac, in Arizona; 3 sisters-in-law, Grace Tomac, Eleanor Tomac, and Betty Tomac, all of Lemmon, SD.

Emil was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law, Gary Burch; 4 brothers, Tom, Evan, Robert, and Joe; 2 sisters, MaryAnn in infancy and Rose Tidball.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, from 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

A memorial has been established.