Gary L. Tuma

Gary L. Tuma

October 19, 1944 – January 17, 2023

VISITATION: Sunday, January 22, from 2-4pm.

SERVICE: Monday, 11am, all at West Center Chapel. Family Interment: Calvary Cemetery.

To view a live broadcast of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed by the family.


Preceded in death by parents. Survived by wife, Joy; daughter, Sheri (Troy); granddaughters: Alexia, Jessica, and Zeta; sister, Lorene (Jerry); many other loving family members and friends.

Gary was born in Omaha, NE, on October 19, 1944, to John and Belle (Czapla) Tuma. He graduated from South High in 1962 and married Joy in 1966. Gary served in the United States Army, trained in communications, and served at the White House under Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. He traveled to places such as Uruguay, Australia, and Hawaii with the president to set up speech and recording equipment.

Gary and Joy welcomed their new baby girl, Sheri, at Walter Reed Medical Center in July of 1969 and then said goodbye to D.C. to return home to Nebraska. He was a manager at Six West Theater before becoming an Omaha firefighter. He excelled at being an apparatus engineer and valued being part of a team that supported each other like family. Gary and Joy also worked at the Original Caniglia’s for many years until it closed.

Gary enjoyed doing yard work, tinkering with various things, and had quite a collection of model firetrucks and cars. He had a bit of artistic talent as well and dabbled in a few projects. This included painting a few Christmas houses and always adding his own touch to greeting cards.  Gary and Joy were lucky enough to take several trips to one of their favorite places, Hawaii, and traveled to many areas of the continental U.S.  They also enjoyed spending time with their dear friends, Tom and Elena.

Gary truly loved his family and liked to spoil his granddaughters in his own way.  He took them to the library and Dairy Queen and bought them fun little toys at Dollar Tree, which he liked to play with as well. His girls remember his love of music and bringing books and their mother’s old toys to play with when he visited. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

4 Comments

  • Donald L Nichols Posted January 20, 2023 3:05 am

    I worked with Gary over the years on the OFD. Nice guy, pretty quiet, He will be missed. Condolences to all his family.

  • Guy & Shelly Whitman Posted January 20, 2023 12:19 pm

    So very sorry for your loss. Prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.

  • Genevieve Reyes(Galvan) Posted January 23, 2023 11:54 am

    MY prayers are with you and your family.I went to grade school wirh Gary and also South High School. God bless

  • Helen (Hrabik) Kuhl Posted April 12, 2023 3:31 pm

    Gees, Gary looks just like he did in high school in his military uniform. Gary and I were in the same grade in high school. He was great, always seemed to have a plan for the future. My condolences to his wife, and children… and grand children…let all the good memories be a support to all of you.

Sign Guestbook

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *