Tomasi F. Tukuafu, 79, of Nauvoo, Illinois, passed away at 7:12 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at his home, surrounded by loving family.

 

Tomasi was born on October 4,1940 in Hofoa, Tongatapu, Tonga, the son of Saia and Ma’ata Tukuafu. On July 30,1964 he married Irene Clare Holmes in the LDS temple at Laie, Hawai’i.

 

Born the fourth child of his parents, he was valedictorian at Tonga High School. He attended Liahona High School for a year in order to attend the Church College of Hawaii (now Brigham Young University - Hawai’i Campus) and majored and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Chemistry with a Teaching certificate. While there, he met the love of his life Irene Clare and they married five months after meeting each other.

 

Together they lived a harmonious life, raising seven boys and seven girls, while staying true to their beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over the years, they lived on the North Shore of O’ahu, Tonga, Utah, Oregon and finally moved to Nauvoo. Tomasi enjoyed night fishing and farming, especially cultivating taro. He was an adamant scrabble player and loved using his knowledge of words to beat everyone in games of scrabble. He was a temple ordinance worker in the Provo, Medford and Nauvoo temples. He played guitar, harmonica, autoharp, ukulele and a little piano all by ear, and spent a lot of time playing music with Irene.

 

Survivors include his wife, Irene; 14 children in order of birth, listed with their spouses, Manu [Cheryl], Ma’ata [Alapati], Isileli [Michelle], Kapua [Aukai], Semisi [Elizabeth], Felila [James], Hina [Olani], Haumana [Alana], Isabella [Floyd], Daniel [Laura], Sarina [Semisi], Don Robert [Mitzi], Clyde and Angelita; 58 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 10 siblings; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and relatives living in the US, Tongan Islands and New Zealand.

 

Tomasi was preceded in death by his parents and 7 siblings.

 

The funeral service will be held at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Sunset Stage, Nauvoo, Illinois. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery near Hamilton, Illinois. No visitation is planned.

 

Schmitz-Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Nauvoo is assisting the family. To leave a condolence please visit Tomasi's obituary at sbbfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please visit Tomasi’s Memorial Page and consider a donation toward funeral costs at https://everloved.com.