Leon Frank Tomasic, of Fairbanks, Alaska, passed away March 29, 2022, unexpectedly at Anchorage Providence ICU with his loving wife Jinlan and son Tadeusz(Tad) at his side. Leon was diagnosed with the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2013, and he had overcome the challenge every step of the way until his passing, with his strong faith in God, positive attitude and an unyielding physical strength.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he grew up there and moved to Fairbanks in 1973 when he began working on the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline.  He had become an active, dedicated member and strong advocate for the Operating Engineers Local 302 Union for the next 27+ years devoted his occupational/working life.

Leon discovered his love for travel in his early 20s. While working hard for his assignments from Local 302, Leon continued traveling around the world during his R&R. Leon was an inspiration to many, especially, to his son Tad, the joy of his life. Since Tad was born, Leon and Tad had developed a very close bond with one another, through traveling on many Alaska trips in his customized Ford Econoline van and touring the state of Alaska often, from Fairbanks, Denali Park, Anchorage, Valdez to Prudhoe Bay and occasionally with the family drove across the states including Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, Florida and California. Certainly, however, one of the highest points of Leon’s experiences and traveling escapades with Tad was in the summer of 2000, they had traveled around European countries which included the Holy Land in the Mideast as well as showing Tad his dad’s family’s roots in Poland and Europe.  That was a trip of lifetime which Leon had promised to Tad as his high school graduation gift after his son had graduated from the Monroe Catholic High School.

Leon was a man of honor -- genuine, loyal, kind and patriotic. As Jim Masterson, one of his long-term friends, had stated, “Leon is loyal to his friends with whom he connected.” Another lifetime friend, Mike Gantz, observed that he and Leon’s friendship began 50+ years ago in Morocco when they did not know each other and Leon gave him a helping hand. Yes, that was the ‘Good Samaritan’ Leon who would go out of his way to help a stranger. Leon’s cousin, Nori Balser, also described Leon as a world traveler with great sense of adventure and courage. Nori said that Leon made friends easily and could “fit in” wherever he went.

According to brother-in-law Bryan Fitzpatrick, Leon was, moreover, and finally, above all, a dyed-in-the wool ‘family man’, who never lost sight of his devotion and responsibilities to his wife, Jinlan, and his son, Tad -- both of whom he loved the best way he could throughout his married and parental years.  He was American, an earnest patriot.  He was a good Samaritan and a lover of dogs; he was a man reflective of the ways and environment in which he was raised, a product of strong, ‘old-time’ Catholic faith and religious beliefs and virtues.

Leon is predeceased by his mother, Frances Tomasic; father, Frank Tomasic, father-in-law, John Lin; sister Yvonne Horn; Uncle Charles Balser; Aunts, Ann and Jo Balser; cousin Anna Balser. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jinlan Tomasic, and son, Tadeusz Casimir Tomasic; mother-in-law, Yumei Lin; cousins, Nori and Lucy Balser; sister-in-laws, Gigi Lin, Jean Hussey(Jim), Tina Fitzpatrick(Bryan); nephews, Andy Tew(Mary), Kevin Liu(Vicky), Patrick Hussey(Hanna), Devon Fitzpatrick and Donnie Horn; nieces, Emily Chiang(Jason Graham), Rachel Chiang(Russ Slaten), Shannon Jones(Josh), Molly Hussey and Shelly Horn.

A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1:00PM at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1300 Pager Road, followed with reception downstairs.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Leon F Tomasic can be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Fairbanks.

Please contact Tad Tomasic at (907)750-3541 for Leon Tomasic's Celebration of Life Mass via zoom.

The service will be live on facebook as well and can be viewed at Blanchard Family Funeral Home on facebook..