Obituary for Timothy Tosovsky
Timothy L. Tosovsky, age 64, a lifelong resident of Edwardsville, died Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Christian Hospital Northeast in St. Louis as a result of complications from heart surgery performed two weeks earlier.
He was born December 18, 1956 in Alton, Illinois, the son of the late Ernest and Betty (Rohrkaste) Tosovsky. He married Sharon “Sherry” Rieger on May 21, 1983 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. She survives.
Besides his wife, Tim is survived by two children: Timothy (Brooke) Tosovsky of Edwardsville and Taylor (fiancé Jake Daily) Tosovsky, also of Edwardsville; three grandchildren: Luka, Gemma, and Vivienne Tosovsky; two sisters: Barbara (Fred) Wiman of Olathe, KS and Nancy (Gene) Pech of St. Charles, MO; four brothers-in-law: Joe (Laura) Rieger of Springfield, IL, Bill Rieger of Peach Orchard, AR, Ron (Mary) Rieger of Troy, IL and Don (Elaine) Rieger of Carlinville, IL; a sister-in-law, Yvonne Rieger of Troy, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides his parents, Tim was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Joe and Dolores Rieger; a brother-in-law, Dave Rieger; a nephew, Joe Rieger, IV; and sisters-in-laws, Gail Rieger and Erma Rieger.
Tim was a 40 + year employee of his family’s business, Home Nursery, Inc. in Albers, IL, holding many positions through the years. In recent years, Tim felt privileged to be a professional driver for Newman Trucking and was currently employed with LSPI, A Berkshire Hathaway Company. His job took him to many beautiful areas of the country.
Tim recently began his third term as Pin Oak Township Trustee. He was sworn in as a Trustee on May 16, 2013 and served the community until the time of his death, 8 years and 3 months. Tim took pride in his position with the township making improvements for the citizens of his district, and he valued and respected his friendships with fellow members of this committee.
He was a longtime member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. He was a member of the Building and Grounds Committee in which he helped landscape and beautify the Parish Campus. He served as chairman of the Bonifest for many years and volunteered his service in many other capacities while his children were students at St. Boniface School. Some of his closest friendships were forged during these years. Most importantly, he served as a Minister of Holy Communion at Mass.
Tim loved his family unconditionally. His loyalty was beyond measure. He never wanted to miss one of their ball games or soccer games. The friendships that were formed on the sidelines with the other parents were priceless to him. He loved just being home on his hobby farm, playing with his 4 dogs, mowing the grass, tending to the property, and baling hay for Taylor’s horses. Tim enjoyed helping and teaching Tj what he knew about remodeling projects but electric was sometimes a humored point of contention! Welcoming their friends over to “party in the white shed” was a favorite and even hosting Brooke and Tim’s wedding. He was looking forward to walking his “little girl”, Taylor, down the grass lane at the farm also. Sherry was spoiled by his little acts of kindness like bringing her coffee to wake her up in the morning on the weekends. Tim was an admirable example as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Boating and water-skiing trips to Norfolk Lake, Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and the Illinois River were some of his fondest memories he enjoyed reminiscing about with friends and family. Snow-skiing trips to the mountains in Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin were favorites also. Another favorite pastime of Tim’s was playing billiards. He enjoyed bantering back and forth with friends and his future son-in-law about who was going to give who a lesson when they played!
Tim was the classic grandpa! In recent years, he looked forward to their vacations to Disney in Florida to celebrate Gemma’s December birthday and visit with the other grandparents, “Nini and Pop”. He always giggled when Vivienne would come in the house and say, “Where’s grandma?” in her raspy little voice! Tim was especially thrilled to go on a guided trout fishing trip in May on the White River with Tim, Taylor, Jake, and grandson Luka. Luka caught the biggest and the most! He had fond memories of a similar fishing trip with his dad as a child and was adamant they went on this trip before his surgery.
Tim’s generous acts of kindness and humor will be greatly missed!
Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 27, 2021 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. A funeral mass will be held immediately following the visitation. Following the funeral mass, his remains will be cremated and interred at Valley View Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be given to the Metro East Humane Society or to the St. Boniface Building Fund.
He was born December 18, 1956 in Alton, Illinois, the son of the late Ernest and Betty (Rohrkaste) Tosovsky. He married Sharon “Sherry” Rieger on May 21, 1983 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. She survives.
Besides his wife, Tim is survived by two children: Timothy (Brooke) Tosovsky of Edwardsville and Taylor (fiancé Jake Daily) Tosovsky, also of Edwardsville; three grandchildren: Luka, Gemma, and Vivienne Tosovsky; two sisters: Barbara (Fred) Wiman of Olathe, KS and Nancy (Gene) Pech of St. Charles, MO; four brothers-in-law: Joe (Laura) Rieger of Springfield, IL, Bill Rieger of Peach Orchard, AR, Ron (Mary) Rieger of Troy, IL and Don (Elaine) Rieger of Carlinville, IL; a sister-in-law, Yvonne Rieger of Troy, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides his parents, Tim was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Joe and Dolores Rieger; a brother-in-law, Dave Rieger; a nephew, Joe Rieger, IV; and sisters-in-laws, Gail Rieger and Erma Rieger.
Tim was a 40 + year employee of his family’s business, Home Nursery, Inc. in Albers, IL, holding many positions through the years. In recent years, Tim felt privileged to be a professional driver for Newman Trucking and was currently employed with LSPI, A Berkshire Hathaway Company. His job took him to many beautiful areas of the country.
Tim recently began his third term as Pin Oak Township Trustee. He was sworn in as a Trustee on May 16, 2013 and served the community until the time of his death, 8 years and 3 months. Tim took pride in his position with the township making improvements for the citizens of his district, and he valued and respected his friendships with fellow members of this committee.
He was a longtime member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. He was a member of the Building and Grounds Committee in which he helped landscape and beautify the Parish Campus. He served as chairman of the Bonifest for many years and volunteered his service in many other capacities while his children were students at St. Boniface School. Some of his closest friendships were forged during these years. Most importantly, he served as a Minister of Holy Communion at Mass.
Tim loved his family unconditionally. His loyalty was beyond measure. He never wanted to miss one of their ball games or soccer games. The friendships that were formed on the sidelines with the other parents were priceless to him. He loved just being home on his hobby farm, playing with his 4 dogs, mowing the grass, tending to the property, and baling hay for Taylor’s horses. Tim enjoyed helping and teaching Tj what he knew about remodeling projects but electric was sometimes a humored point of contention! Welcoming their friends over to “party in the white shed” was a favorite and even hosting Brooke and Tim’s wedding. He was looking forward to walking his “little girl”, Taylor, down the grass lane at the farm also. Sherry was spoiled by his little acts of kindness like bringing her coffee to wake her up in the morning on the weekends. Tim was an admirable example as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Boating and water-skiing trips to Norfolk Lake, Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and the Illinois River were some of his fondest memories he enjoyed reminiscing about with friends and family. Snow-skiing trips to the mountains in Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin were favorites also. Another favorite pastime of Tim’s was playing billiards. He enjoyed bantering back and forth with friends and his future son-in-law about who was going to give who a lesson when they played!
Tim was the classic grandpa! In recent years, he looked forward to their vacations to Disney in Florida to celebrate Gemma’s December birthday and visit with the other grandparents, “Nini and Pop”. He always giggled when Vivienne would come in the house and say, “Where’s grandma?” in her raspy little voice! Tim was especially thrilled to go on a guided trout fishing trip in May on the White River with Tim, Taylor, Jake, and grandson Luka. Luka caught the biggest and the most! He had fond memories of a similar fishing trip with his dad as a child and was adamant they went on this trip before his surgery.
Tim’s generous acts of kindness and humor will be greatly missed!
Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 27, 2021 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. A funeral mass will be held immediately following the visitation. Following the funeral mass, his remains will be cremated and interred at Valley View Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be given to the Metro East Humane Society or to the St. Boniface Building Fund.