Donald Wayne Tomanka, Sr

Donald Wayne Tomanka, Sr., 87, of Cedar Falls, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Oak Park Estates.  He was born May 6, 1936, in Prague, Oklahoma, son of Louis and Alice (Luster) Tomanka.  Don graduated from Cedar Rapids Wilson High School with the Class of 1955. He began his grocery career as a teenager with the local "Me-Too" store working his way up to store manager.  Don, then, went to work for Hy-Vee stores in a variety of leadership positions at varying stores before retiring in 1998 with 32 years of service. He married Jacqueline Martin in 1956 and they divorced in 1969.  On September 19, 1970, he was united in marriage to Betty (Barth) Berg in Chicago.  Don was also a veteran of the National Guard.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beth; daughter, Pam; grandson, Myles Trout; great-grandson, Dane Aaden Myhr; and sister, Alice "Nita" Deaver.  He is survived by his sons: Don Tomanka of Denver, Iowa, Ron (Terri) Tomanka of Mansfield, Texas and Scott Berg of Modesto, California; daughter, Constance Trout of Marion, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and a brother, Richard (Judy) Tomanka of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Don's Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with entombment at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery of Cedar Rapids. Visitation from 4-6:00 Wednesday evening at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home and an hour prior to the service at the church.  Memorials may be directed to Oak Park Estates of Cedar Falls , UnityPoint Hospice of Waterloo or to the dementia charity of your choice.

Don was an accomplished water skier in his younger years and spent a lot of time on the Cedar River with his family.  He and Beth bred Schnauzers and enjoyed weekly evenings with friends at the AMVETS post of Cedar Falls.  Don was a smart man with a mind for numbers and enjoyed playing slot machines.  A former council member, he regularly attended church at Bethlehem Lutheran until his health no longer allowed.