Josephine Helen “Jo” Tomancik

Josephine, of Lansing, formerly of Owosso, passed away on April 23, 2018, at the age of 94. Affectionately known as ‘Jo’ by those fortunate enough to know her, she was born May 19, 1923 to Joseph Stephen and Mary Emma (Marchok) Tomancik, both of whom had immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia. Originally to Chicago, her parents later moved to Detroit, and eventually settled in Owosso, Michigan. Jo was the third of five children. She was baptized in St. Joseph Catholic Church of Owosso, and graduated with Owosso High School’s Class of 1941.

In early 1942, at the age of eighteen, she took the State of Michigan Civil Service examination for typist/clerk. After passing the exam, she was called in for an interview with the then Department of Vocational Education and Rehabilitation. She was hired and began work on April 4th. With this new job, she moved from Owosso to Lansing, where she resided the remainder of her life.

In January 1950, she left the Department of Vocational Education and Rehabilitation, and transferred to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). In April 1953, she joined the Department’s Roadside Development Division.

During her career as a full-time State of Michigan employee, Jo often signed up for classes at, what was then known as, ‘Old Central High School’ in downtown Lansing. “That’s what people did”, she recalled. As technology crept its way into her work, and never to be left trailing in her skills, she periodically took computer classes at Lansing Community College on her own time. It was important to her that her skills kept pace with the rapidly changing technological environment. ‘Giving up’ on understanding computers and new office technologies was never an option to Jo. As recently as three years before her retirement, she was taking WordPerfect word processing classes, and earning A’s. She maintained her high energy in leading a full and active life.

On April 30, 1992, after proudly completing 50 years and 26 days of consecutive State service, she retired from MDOT as a Secretarial Administrative Assistant. In recognition of her loyalty and dedication to her work, and as the first woman in the history of MDOT to achieve 50 years of consecutive state service, the scenic turnout located on highway M-22 in Arcadia was named in her honor. She was clearly not without a mentor in pursuing her goal of retirement after fifty years, and fondly recalled her dear friend Evagene Szczukowski (MDOT, 48 years) as her inspirator.

While in Lansing, she was a dedicated member of St. Mary Cathedral, and volunteered countless hours, over many, many years, in helping with services and event set ups. She also served as an officer for the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association (St. Joseph Church of Owosso Chapter). This ethnic insurance association, originally founded on Czechoslovakian distrust of, and vulnerability in, the ‘new world’, coordinates insurance for Czechoslovakian-American children – infancy through fifteen years.

She was blessed with more than 25 years of a healthy and active retirement, periodically taking a day with friends for a drive to Arcadia to ‘check out her spot’. As for how she stayed so vivacious and young at heart – and until her last days, she was always quick to simply say: “Don’t spend too much of your time around old people. Keep in touch with the young folks. They lift your spirits. Stay away from complainers too. They just drag you down. That’s not necessary!”

Later last year, her mobility and independence simply became too much of a challenge for her to remain in her own apartment. Having lived in the very same apartment since December 1967 (50 years), God blessed her with a seamless and peaceful transition to a more comforting and safe place of assisted residence.

A life-long self-supporter, Jo’s determination and success serve as an inspiration to women, singles and seniors everywhere.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings: Mary Theresa (Arthur Rice), Anna Margaret (Francis deBlanc), Frank Anthony (Patsy Harvey), John Joseph (Alice Mikek).

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Patsy Tomancik (Frank), her beloved ‘adopted stepson’, R Cole Bouck and his partner Marcus Aw, her dear and close friends Doris Quick and ‘Tall’ Steve Kozera, along with many nieces, nephews and other special friends whom she dearly loved.

Special appreciation is expressed to the many caregivers who more recently came to know her and ease her through her difficult life transitions; most especially, the staff and caregivers of The Willows at East Lansing.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Friends will be received on Friday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, and beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church. A private burial service will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery, in Owosso, where she will be laid to rest along with her parents and sister Mary.

In lieu of flowers, interested persons are asked to consider making a contribution to one of the following in her name: City Rescue Mission of Lansing, Greater Lansing Food Bank, St. Mary Cathedral, or the R Cole Bouck LGBT and Ally Pride Scholarship, a student scholarship established at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, in 2017.

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2 Messages to “Josephine Helen “Jo” Tomancik

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Jeff Bokovoy
April 26, 2018 at 8:25 am

Jo was the best secretary I have ever worked with, Her joy and enthusiasm inspired me every day. She will be dearly missed.

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Geneal Prather
April 29, 2018 at 2:22 am

As one of the lucky caregivers for Jo at the Willows at East Lansing I would like to say just how much we will miss her and her stories. She was a great woman. Prayers to the family and friends.

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