WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Ruth E. Tokarz, 86, of Colon, passed away late Thursday evening, Oct. 15, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.
She was born March 7, 1923, in East Chicago, Ind., a daughter of the late Henry and Elsie (Mills) Still.
Mrs. Tokarz had resided in Colon since 1997, coming from Burnham, Ill. Prior to that she had resided in East Chicago and her early life was spent in Chesterton, Ind.
On Aug. 10, 1939, she married Patrick Henry in Valparaiso, Ind. He died Oct. 24, 1965. She then married Edward Tokarz on July 3, 1969, and he died Nov. 17, 1978.
Following 22 years of dedicated employment as a laboratory technician with Calumet Refining, she retired in 1988.
She was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sturgis and enjoyed sewing, watching television and gambling. Mrs. Tokarz loved to travel and had taken several trips to Europe and Mexico.
She is survived by four daughters, Kathleen (the late Richard) Olah of Colon, Arleen (Malcolm) McQuirk of Birmingham, England, Nancy (Robert) Lawson of Suffolk, Va., and Patricia (John) Nazey of Beaufort, S.C.; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her, husbands; a daughter, Donna Agro; five brothers; and a sister.
The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, where the Rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The funeral Mass celebrating the life of Ruth E. Tokarz will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Father Richard Altine will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Tokarz’s memory consider the Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
