A million times we will miss you,   A million times we will cry.   If love alone could of saved you, you would of never died.   In life we loved you dearly,   in death we love you still.   In our hearts we hold a place no other one could fill.   The Golden Gates stood open,   God saw you needed rest,   Gods garden must be beautiful, he always picks the best.      I will miss my Uncle Gary everyday for the rest of my life. He was a wonderful,   loving, caring man. We all believe that he was to young to die but obviously   God had a greater plan for him and I can at least rest in the knowledge that he   is finally back in the arms of his parents (my grandparents) and that he will be   watching over me and the rest of our family always.

Buddy, Chuck & Pat,      I was so sorry to hear about Gary. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I had the great honor of sharing my life with Gary for the last weeks of his life.   He filled my life with laughter, hope and love. He had told me that I had given   him what he wanted and needed in life, and that was a partner that truly loved   him with all of his problems, his past, and his weaknesses to help make him   strong and to make him the person that he wanted to be again. He had always   considered my feelings in every way, and told me that he had fallen in love with   me, and that I had made him so very very happy. Gary gave me so much in so   many ways that I cannot even begin to explain. I wish to thank the Thomka   family for making sure that I was able to attend Gary's services, and invited me   into their home. Thank you Pat, Bud, Chuck, Lori and Mary Lou for everything.

My brothers and I would like to thank you for loving our brother Gary. This has been a tough time for us, but everyone who shared memories and expressed   condolences helped bring us peace. It is wonderful to know you cared for him, too.   Thank you,   Pat Thomka Fry

To Pat, Buddy, and/or Chuckie - my siblings all send their sympathy & can't   help but wonder about Gary. If you'd like, please email me at   spoyldbrat143@aol.com. Audrey Kanonik Stephenson

1'1/ remember Gary as the neighborhood "cutie': driving down 14thAve. in his   Corvette!!He was a good friend & my thoughts & prayers are with you, his   family.

Gary, you were a great friend and neighbor. Yougot me through some rough   times and for that I am forever grateful. Wish I could have seen you one more   time.....   Thanks for everything.

Dear Family,   Thankyou for sharing Gary with the world. He was a classmate (Steel Valley   High School, Class of 1973)who ventured beyond Homestead to share his   positive influence with so many others. His legacy lives on! You remain in my   thoughts and prayers.

Dear Pat & Lenny,   Yes we remember your brother Gary and we so very sorry to hear that he had   passed away -particularly because he was so young. He wasyounger than   our Steve. Please give our sympathy to your family. Lots & lots of love, Joyce &   Larry

The video put together by the web site was beautifully done. A beautiful tribute to Gary.   Especially the last photo of him waving at the camera.   We only knew Gary for the past 7 years but he was a keeper of a friend.   Made of whole family laugh many many times. Brightened up our dinners   together.   Gary we will miss you!   Tom and Celia Biesek

Dear Bud, Chuck & Pat,   Please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your families in the passing of   your brother, Gary. You will be in my prayers and thoughts at this most difficult   time. God Bless all of you.

I will miss you Gary. We always had such fun at family gatherings. You made   me laugh and that was good. See you later.   Love,   Donna

Dear Gary,   It seems like yesterday that you and I were in your living room watching   Supermanand Aunt Jane was making us Isaly's barbecue chip-chop ham   sandwiches. I will cherish my memories of all the times we spent together up   on the farm and at Uncle AI's cabin. All the family sitting at the largest kitchen   table I ever saw. Jill and I have wonderful memories of our times together - our   wedding, Vegas,and get together's in Canfield. But mostly your love and   laughter! Gary, your life will live on forever in my heart and in the hearts and   lives of those you touched.   Your loving cousin, Larry

Gone are the days we used to share,   But in our hearts you are always there,   The gates of memory will never close,   We miss you more than anyone knows,   With tender love and deep regret,   We who love you will never forget.   Rest in peace Uncle Gary.

On behalf of myself and my family please accept my thank you for all your   prayers and condolences in memory of Gary. I will miss him and love him   forever.

Some of the best only get to stay with us such a short time. It never seems fair   and never hurts less - it just happens. My thoughts and prayers are with you,   Juel

I will miss you Uncle Gary. My heartfelt sympathies goes out to my mother and   his sister Pat Fry, and also to his brothers Chuck and Bud Thomka and their   families.

I know that Gary appreciates all the friends who have sent or brought their   heartfelt condolences to the family.   I personally thank everybody, as well.

On behalf of my family I want to thank everyone who expressed their sympathy. I also want to apologize for temporarily removing this website which resulted in all the memorial postings being lost. I hope that if you visit the site again or for the first time that you will post your thoughts on behalf of Gary.  My baby brother is going to be missed because he always brought a smile upon your face no matter what kind of mood you were in.

Gary, I saw you video tribute for the first time yesterday (7/22/2008) because I just did not have the strength to view it until then. I cry every day because I miss you so much. You have always been my strength and faith no matter what kind of mood I was in. You always brought the sunshine into my life even if we just talked on the phone. When you stayed with Bud and me on the weekends it was always the highlight of my day. I don't think that I will ever be the same person since you left and I just know that you are giving joy and happiness to everyone in heaven and I will see you again but until then my heart is broken but I will survive.

I wanted to extend my deepest sympathy to you in the loss of Gary. I own the   Hi Level Lounge in Homestead and Gary was a customer and a dear friend. He   called me on Good Friday and left a message and I did not return the call and   really feel quilt and loss. The message is still on my recorder to remind me to   call him and I have listened to it over and over and had no idea that that was   going to be my last time to talk with him. He was a great guy and will be missed   by all that knew him.

OBITUARY

Gary Coleman Thomka

22 March, 1955 – 29 April, 2008

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