Lila Tomek, A Real-Life ‘Rosie the Riveter,’ Passed Away at 101
It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we honor the passing of Lila Tomek, a quiet giant of the Greatest Generation and a true “Rosie the Riveter.” She passed away at 101 years old.
At just 19, while others clung to comfort, Lila stepped into history. She left behind her office job in Pawnee City, Nebraska, as her two younger brothers marched toward war—one to Europe, the other into the Pacific. She could not carry a rifle, but she carried something just as powerful: resolve. And so she chose her battlefield: the roaring production lines of the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant near Omaha.
Amid thunderous machinery and the constant hum of urgency, her steady hands helped build the B-26 Marauder and the B-29 Superfortress, aircraft that bore the weight of hope for a world desperate for peace. Each rivet she fastened was an act of defiance against tyranny. Each shift she worked was a prayer for her brothers’ safe return.
Lila’s story is the story of millions—ordinary citizens who performed extraordinary service. With her passing, we lose a direct link to an era of immense courage and collective purpose. Her legacy is etched not only in the metal of legendary aircraft but in the very fabric of American resilience. We remember her strength, her sacrifice, and the powerful truth that her hands, and millions like them, truly helped win the war.
