In Memory of
MIKE TOMA
September 16, 1930 – October 5, 2009
Mike Toma passed away peacefully at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater, BC, at 79 years of age after a brave battle with lung cancer.
Mike was born on the farm near Hairy Hill, Alberta, oldest of nine children, to the late Sanda and Nick Toma. Mike loved his siblings, Johnny, Virginia (Alec), Sylvia (Bill), Marie, Archie (Jeannie), Eddie (Shirley), Eugene (Lil) and Nicky (Karen). At the age of 20, after working at the Coleman Mine in Alberta, Mike ventured to BC where he landed a job at Bob Allen’s sawmill in Prince George. Mike married and began a family, eventually moving back to Willingdon, Alberta. Years later, the family moved to Kitimat, BC, where Mike worked at the Alcan plant, owned and operated Radio Cabs, and managed the Kitimat Gordon Hotel. Upon moving to Kamloops, he ran his own Blue Star Taxicab. His last job was at Long Year Diamond Drilling in the Yukon, where he was injured, thus retiring early.
In 1980 Mike moved to Clearwater, BC, where he lived for 30 years. He enjoyed the warmth of community here with friends and family. Mike was always greeted with plenty of honks and waves as he meandered across the street from his home to the Safety Mart. He would often go, sometimes three times a day, to pick up a few groceries, but mainly to see his son Sandy, and granddaughter Lisa.
Mike and Shirley truly enjoyed the company of family and friends – the more the merrier! Countless hours of fun were spent playing Aggravation or cards around the kitchen table. Mike would tease that others were cheating, but when he was winning there would be a twinkle in his eye and a “l’il gitko” smile on his face.
A proud Moshu (grandpa), Mike loved baseball. He and Shirley never missed a game when Garret and Darren played. At the last game they attended, in Kamloops BC, Mike struggled his way over to the bleachers using two canes for support. Garret scored a home run!
Mike loved family and friends. He loved old cars, flying pigs and strange clocks…lots of clocks!...that went off hourly 10 seconds apart….He had a great sense of humour.
Mike had kind eyes, a beautiful smile, and a BIG WARM HEART. We will miss him forever. Ya taba llubu.
Mike is proudly held in the hearts of his wife of 15 years Shirley; children Sandy (Diane), Maurice (Char), Gary (predeceased), Charlotte (Steven), and Michael; stepchildren Dale, Brian, Sherry and Robbie; stepchildren Colin (predeceased), Bruce, Kim, Danny, Donnie and Neil, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A funeral service for Mike Toma was held at the Community Baptist Church in Clearwater BC on Saturday, October 10, 2009. A graveside interment service followed at Riverview Cemetery in Clearwater. Lloyd Strickland, Minister, officiated. Funeral arrangements entrusted to North Thompson Funeral Services, Clearwater, BC, 250-674-3030