Kenneth John Tomsyck

Kenneth John "Tom" Tomsyck Sr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 27th, 10:36 pm at St. Michael's Hospital Silverdale, WA. He leaves behind his wife Ivylani M. Tomsyck, their son Kenneth J. Tomsyck Jr, and daughter Elizabeth U. M. Garcia. Ken or "Tom" as some friends and family know him, was born at St. Luke's Hospital Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 2nd, 1941, to his father Edward E. Tomsyck, and mother Charlotte F. Tomsyck. Growing up in Wisconsin Rapids the third youngest with three siblings, his youth was spent with his love of tending to and riding horses, munching on black licorice, and maybe skipping Catholic School to go to western movie matinees.

Tom joined the Navy in 1960, he served both during and post the Vietnam War as a Hull Tech/Welder aboard seven U.S. Navy vessels. Along with a chilly 13 months at McMurdo Station Antarctica, for "Operation Deep Freeze". His next stop was Naval Air Station Alameda CA, with Tom finishing his Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, and "C School" welder training in Long Beach & San Diego. It was in Alameda where he met civil-service employee Ivylani Peleiholani, while she was "working" on her lunch break and Ken requested supply items (and her phone number). After their meet-cute, his handsome blue eyes and several dates worked well enough, with Tom and Ivy getting married in Carson City Nevada on July 27th, 1974. So nice they did it twice, with a huge celebration wedding in Ivy's hometown of Kalapana Hawaii on November 2nd, 1974.

Leaving Alameda with transfer orders to Yokosuka Naval Base-Japan is where they welcomed their first child Kenneth Jr in April of 1976. For the family's last duty station post-Yokosuka, Tom and Ivy chose to reside in Washington State upon his 20-year retirement from the U.S. Navy in 1980. Which was held on the USS Missouri at P.S.N.S. in Bremerton WA. Tom and Ivy decided to make their home in Poulsbo WA, where in February 1986 they welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Elizabeth. With Tom's 25-year post-Naval career working under Federal Government Contractors at NSB Bangor & Indian Island for Pan-Am, United, and Johnson Controls, which he retired from in 2005.

In the '80s and '90s is when Tom (whose father Ed was active with steelworker unions) began his other passion of activism & civic duty. A longtime member of U.S.W.A. Union Local 9241 in Silverdale WA, and the Washington State Labor Council, partaking in many labor protests and events both locally and nationwide, including the frontlines of the Organized Steelworker protest at the WTO "Battle in Seattle" in 1999. Tom was also an active member of the Washington State & National Democratic Party, being a longtime campaign volunteer for WA State Senators Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Betti Sheldon, and Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen. He did volunteer work for the Salvation Army, as well as his neighborhood of Edgewater Beach Community Club as a board member/volunteer. Along with ongoing support for the following military service member groups: the V.F.W., D.A.V., and American Legion. His favorite charities are St. Jude, National Wildlife Federation, Salvation Army, and Red Cross.

Tom's enjoyments during his Washington life years were hunting trips, day trips to Sequim & Hurricane Ridge, and camping at Wynoochee Dam. Chopping wood, gardening & yard work was his "workout" of choice. He loved riding theme park rides (even those shady carnival ones at the Kitsap County Fair), busting George Family fireworks on the 4th of July & New Year's Eve, and going to the movies (yup, still munching on black licorice). He enjoyed cheering for spins on Little Piggy slots at Clearwater Casino, rooting on his beloved Green Bay Packers and political news shows (both of which usually involved screaming at the television). He loved cooking and was good at it, especially for BBQs and all holiday occasions. From rib roasts to hams to game hens, and apple pies from his apple tree. Never a picky eater willing to try all kinds of cooking cultures, as he loved his wife's ono-licious Hawaiian cooking, as well as his routine late-night sweets.

Kenneth was a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, ship-mate, union brother, and friend. Always willing to help those in need, unselfishly providing for his family and being supportive of them through all the roller coaster decisions life encompasses. For that, he will always be loved, respected, and dearly missed. We love you and we thank you, Dad. No more pain, you can rest now.

Kenneth was survived by his wife, his two children, grandchild Elizabeth Ivylani Marie Garcia; older brother Thomas; younger sister EveAnne; son-in-law Chris Garcia; grandma-in-law Marie Garcia, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his nephew Keola, his eldest sister Carol, and his parents Edward and Charlotte.

There will be a Memorial Service/Celebration of Life at the Masonic Temple of Bremerton, 878 5th Street Bremerton WA, 98337 Saturday, May 21st at 3 pm. His honor guard service and cremains burial will be held on a future date TBD at Tahoma National Cemetary in Kent WA.

Special thanks to all our friends & family for the "Kokua": the visits, comfort food and condolences, phone calls, and cards (and to those helping in the planning of Tom's memorial service).

Big thanks to Tim & Alison at Cook Family Funeral Home for everything they have done for Dad and us, and to Ken's care team of doctors & nurses from St. Micheal's Hospital, Stafford Belmont, and Bainbridge Island Health & Rehab.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.