Rufus Frank Tomczak, 77, of Lake Kabetogama, died Thursday Dec. 20, 2012, at Rainy Lake Medical Center.
Rufus was born Feb. 20, 1935, in Sturgeon Lake, Minn.
The Tomczak family moved to the Kabetogama area in 1938, where they operated a logging and sawmill business.
Rufus attended school in Ray, International Falls, and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.
He served in the United States Air Force Security Service from 1954 to 1958 in Germany and returned from there to manage the family lumber business.
Rufus enjoyed traveling and socializing. Every new person he met was a friend.
He was interested in ancestry and would unearth cousins the family never knew they had.
He was always ready for a good debate (subject matter, not important).
He especially loved spending time with the nephews and nieces, playing with them or helping with school homework.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Selma Tomczak; brother, Bernard Tomczak; and sister, Geraldine Dion.
Rufus is survived by his sister, Lorraine (John) Ruelle; brothers, Eugene Tomczak and James (Marlene) Tomczak; and 15 nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.
Visitation and Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Green-Larsen Mortuary.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Interment will be at St. Isadors Cemetery, Sturgeon Lake.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
