Thomas Anthony Srok

Thomas Srok, age 89, of Waleska, GA passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at his residence.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2:00 PM, on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from the Chapel of South Canton Funeral Home with Rev. Patricia Horlock, and Rev. Ed Srok officiating. Interment will follow at Georgia National Cemetery on March 4, 2024 at 1:30 PM with U.S. Air Force Honors.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 3, 2024, at South Canton Funeral Home.

Thomas Anthony Srok was born at his grandma’s home in Finlayson, MN (Pop. 157) on June 13, 1934. The house where Tom was born had no electricity or indoor plumbing and the doctor was paid with two chickens.

After growing up in Duluth, MN, Tom joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17 and served four years, including three years in Germany in the post WWII occupation. Later Tom served the U.S. Air Force 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (37th ARRS) from June 1966 to January 1967, working in a contracted civilian position for 6 months for General Electric. Tom repaired downed helicopters, and assisted with rescues deep into North Vietnam, Laos, and the Gulf of Tonkin. At the time, Tom was awarded the 100 mission patch for his service with the Jolly Green Giants, a rare commendation for civilian service.

Tom and Nyle married in 1957 and raised four children, 35 foster children, and lived in CA, TX, MD, GA, and four months in Cairo, Egypt.

Travels took Tom to 52 different countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Russia, Egypt, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Jamaica, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, and many more!

Along with Air Force military service, Tom worked 37 years for GE, then 10 years with Nyle in woodworking at craft shows, then several years for his daughter Becky’s real estate business, before retiring.

Tom is survived by the love of his life and partner of 67 years, Nyle Srok, and his son Ed Srok (Dawn), daughter Becky Babcock (David), daughter Julie Pyles (Bobby), son Tony Holcombe (Kim) and eight grandchildren, Josh Srok (Jodi), Nate Srok (Crystal), Ben Srok, Lisa Srok, Kim Duckworth (Brittain), Jon Babcock (Cynthia), Matt Babcock (Jennifer), and Michelle Babcock (James). Tom also had 10 great-grandchildren.

Tom is preceded in death by his son Steve Srok, his parents, his seven siblings, and numerous dear friends who were his chosen family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions to the Srok Scholarship Endowment fund, a scholarship established decades ago by Tom’s niece Deb Pomroy Coughlin, who served as a faculty member in the ESL Department at Minneapolis College. The fund honors Tom’s father, Jack Srok. Jack was a Croatian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. with a sixth-grade education, and served in the U.S. Army until the end of WWI, earning two purple hearts. Jack saw education as the key to success, yet family obligations made additional education an unreachable dream. Instead, Jack steadily improved his skills by struggling, side by side with his children, as he helped them with their schoolwork. This instilled the value of hard work and enthusiasm for learning in his children. The purpose of the Scholarship Fund is to provide scholarships for students who exhibit hard work through academic achievements and demonstrate clear financial need due to their own family responsibilities.

MAIL CHECK: payable to The Minneapolis College Foundation and put “Srok Scholarship in memory of Tom Srok” in the memo. Mail it to: Minneapolis College Foundation Attn: Sue Eaton, 1501 Hennepin Ave MEC B, Minneapolis, MN 55403

GIVE ONLINE: https://minneapolis.edu/alumni-and-friends/donate-now

- Choose Donate

- Choose Tribute Gift and type “In Memory of Tom Srok”

- Choose Fund Designation as “Other” in the drop down menu, then write in “Srok Memorial ESL Scholarship” in the drop down space.

- Add payment info, click donate, and you will receive a confirmation of your gift.

South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.thescfh.com