Thomas LaRocca

Thomas J. LaRocca, Sr., 95, of Scribner, formerly of Fremont, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point.

Thomas was born Oct. 12, 1916, in East Kingston, N.Y., to James and Frances (Sisco) LaRocca. He grew up in East Kingston and attended college. He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 7, 1942, to Aug. 17, 1943, during World War II. He lived in Chicago, where he worked for the Sperry Rand Corporation and Schutter-Johnson Candy Factory. He lived in Grand Rapids, Mich., and then in Omaha, where he was employed by Associated Seed Growers (ASGRO). He moved to Fremont in 1952 and owned and operated LaRocca TV Service for many years in Omaha and Fremont. Thomas also worked for Lear Corporation and he worked for Western Electric in Omaha for 23 years, retiring in 1978.

Thomas married Victoria Dobrowolski on Feb. 14, 1942, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Chicago. Victoria died Feb. 13, 2001.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fremont, the Knights of Columbus Council 3736, Father Leo Raus Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a former member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles Club, Coin Club of Fremont, Telephone Pioneers and Phil Sheridan Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Survivors include: sons, James (and wife, Mary) LaRocca of Fremont, Thomas J. LaRocca Jr. of Fremont, Jeffrey LaRocca of Springfield, Mo., John (and wife, Sandy) LaRocca of Omaha, Joel LaRocca of Fremont and Jayme (and wife, Angela) LaRocca of Kansas City, Kan.; daughters, Joanne (and husband, Robert) Gemar of Fremont and Jeri (and husband, Jon) Dennis Nutzman of Lowden, Iowa; sisters, Loretta (and husband, Jim) Nestle and JoAnn Dausch, all of Tampa, Fla.; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jackie Olson; grandson, Tyler Olson; six brothers, Anthony, John, Vince, Louis, and Emil and infant brother Louis; and four sisters, Theresa, Rosie, Jackie and infant sister Theresa.

The memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fremont with the Rev. David Belt officiating. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. today at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont with the family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus Living Rosary at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Fremont with military honors conducted by the Fremont Honor Guard of VFW Post 854 and American Legion Post 20.

Memorials may be directed to the Sons of Italy or Archbishop Bergan Elementary School.

Online condolences may be directed to www.mosermemorialchapels.com.