Joseph Tokar Obituary (1925-2021) – Modesto, CA

Joseph Peter Tokar
March 15, 1925 – December 21, 2021
Modesto, California – Joseph Peter Tokar (Joe), age 96, died peacefully of natural causes on December 21, 2021 in Modesto, California with his beloved wife and children by his side.
He was born on March 15, 1925 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to the late Michael Tokarczyk and Mary Tokarczyk.
In addition to his parents, his brother John Tokarczyk, the sisters Louise German and Julia Scoville precede him in death.
He leaves behind his 71-year-old loving wife, Joan Kerr Tokar, his sister Pauline Nelson and her husband Jon Nelson from Vancouver Washington, his five children, Yvonne Joyce and husband Terry from Huntington Beach CA, Royce Tokar and husband Brian Chesbro from Eugene OR, Michael Tokar and Ron Owens from Modesto CA, David Tokar and wife Debbie from Waterford CA and Daniel Tokar from Santa Cruz, CA. He also leaves eleven grandchildren and step-grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Joe grew up in Uniontown, PA and was drafted into the Army Air Corps when he was 18, where he proudly fought for our country during World War II. In 1949 he graduated from West Virginia University with an engineering degree. Shortly after graduating, he met Joan and they were married in Cleveland, Ohio.
They moved to El Segundo CA in 1951, where he began his career as an engineer for North American aviation. Joe and Joan had five children and lived in El Segundo until 1968 when they moved to Placentia, California. They lived in the same house in Placentia for 52 years until they moved closer to their family in Modesto, California in January 2020.
Joe led a full, adventurous life with his friends and family; He loved golf, camping, fishing, skiing, went to the beach, played wiffle ball and bocce with his family in his yard, and coached his children’s teams in sports such as baseball and soccer. He rarely missed any of his children’s or grandchildren sporting events. One of his proudest accomplishments was hiking to the top of Half Dome, Yosemite, with his children and grandchildren at the age of 75. He was an avid gardener even in his nineties, growing tomatoes and other vegetables in his community garden for all ages. His avocado and grapefruit trees in Placentia were legendary among neighbors and family.
Joe and Joan were very active in the Catholic Church. They were very committed and proud parishioners of the Polish Center St. John Paul II – Catholic Church in Yorba Linda. Joe was a former Great Knight of the Knights of Columbus and volunteered much of his time helping the community organize.
Joe was kind and had a heart of gold, he was a humble man who always put family first. He was very much loved by his children and grandchildren and everyone who knew him. He is much regretted.

Published by Modesto Bee on December 26th, 2021.