Lila Fredda (Westerman) Tomek

Lila Fredda (Westerman) Tomek, 101, of Humboldt, Nebraska was born March 3, 1923, on a farm near DuBois, NE, to Emma (Jun) and Fred Westerman. She was the second of four siblings.  Lila attended Avondale Country School near DuBois, Pawnee City (NE) High School, and business school in Lincoln, Nebraska.  On October 3, 1942, Lila started working at the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant near Omaha, Nebraska, as a Rosie the Riveter building the B26 and B29 bomber planes. She was also part of a team that stripped the Enola Gay and four other planes equipped to carry the bomb. Lila wanted to assist in the war effort because her two brothers (Lyle and Glenn) were serving overseas. She was one of the first women hired and one of the last to be released. After World War II, she worked for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. in Omaha.

On June 14, 1947, she married Rudy Tomek in a double wedding ceremony with her brother, Lyle, and Kay (Millington) Westerman, at the Presbyterian Church in Pawnee City. After Rudy graduated from the University of Nebraska, he and Lila were employed by the George A. Hormel company in Austin, Minnesota. They continued with the company in Fremont, Nebraska, until 1952 when they moved to the family farm near Table Rock, Nebraska. In 1960, they moved to Cozad where Rudy managed the O.A. Cooper Co. mill, and Lila was a legal secretary. They moved to Humboldt, Nebraska, in 1972. After retiring, they traveled extensively. They were host to several visiting Rotary International Exchange Clubs and hosted exchange students from Brazil.  Lila and Rudy were members of the Humboldt United Methodist Church where Lila prepared funeral dinners and served in other volunteer capacities for more than 40 years.

Lila was an active member of the community as a member of P.E.O., book club, several bridge groups, and she served on the board of the government subsidized apartments.  She loved to cook, bake, peruse recipes, and found joy in gardening, sewing, quilting, painting China, and needlework. She was a trusted loyal friend and confidant. Her children say she was the best mother ever, a role model, and their hero.

On April 10, 2024, Lila and 26 other Rosies represented more than 6 million women who served in the defense industry during World War II at a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony held at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. She was the only representative from Nebraska.

Lila passed away on Monday, June 24, 2024, at her home in Humboldt having reached the earthly age of 101 years, 3 months, and 21 days.  She was preceded in death by infant twin sons, her parents, her husband, her sister Clara Culwell and brother-in-law Wayne, brother Lyle and sister-in-law Kay, and brother Glenn and sister-in-law Jeanene.

Lila is survived by her children, Nancy (Tomek) Wilcher and Jim Tomek and wife Beth, grandsons Carter Wilcher and wife Shawna, Ryan Tomek, and Avery Tomek and fiancée Amy Tang, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Donations in Lila’s memory can be made to the Humboldt United Methodist Church, the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Memorial Garden, or the Humboldt Auditorium.

A private graveside interment will be held.

Condolences can be shared online at www.wherrymortuary.com

Wherry Mortuary-207 N. Nemaha ST-Humboldt, Nebraska 68376 (402) 862-2915

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