Tonga Vainuku Obituary (1975 - 2021)

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, Tonga Toutai Vainuku Jr., of Syracuse, Utah, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at age 46. Tonga was born on March 16, 1975, to parents Tevita Mapakaitolo Va’inuku and Salome Akesiu Mei Hakau Paletu’a Va’inuku, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tonga graduated from Liahona High School in 1992 and went on to serve a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Island of Western Samoa. In April 20, 2002, He married Elisapesi Lilieni Puamau, the love of his life, in the Salt Lake Temple, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They raised two beautiful daughters, Salome Akesiu Mei Hakau Paletu’a Mapakaitolo Va’inuku and Soana Feohi Moe ‘Ofa Hemailekahina Hope Mapakaitolo Va’inuku. Tonga was a hard worker and a family man and his life was his little family. He was a member of the IBEW, Local Electrician Union 354 and worked as an Electrician for Wasatch Electric and a Ramp agent for Delta Airlines for many years. He loved working at both of his two jobs very much and loved the people he worked with. Tonga had a passion for reading. He loved the game of rugby very much. He played and enjoyed it for many years. In his spare time, he loved spending time with his family and especially his two girls. He was a man of great faith and a God fearing man. He held many different church callings and he fulfilled each one to the best of his ability. He was known for the tremendous love he had for his family, his mother, his wife, his children, and his sisters. He was also known for his infectious smile, his kind and compassionate spirit. Tonga was preceded in death by his father, Tevita Mapakaitolo and his mother, Salome Akesiu, and his brother Paletu’a Nukuluve Va’inuku. Tonga is survived by his wife Pesi, his two children, Siu and Jojo, his siblings Seini Emaile Va’inuku Fakahau, Soana Feohi Moe ‘Ofa Va’inuku Latu, Tevita Mapa Va’inuku, Lu’isa Hehea Va’inuku Vaka, Tevita Mapa ‘Ilavalu Va’inuku, Tavite Vehekite Va’inuku, Kaunanga Metuloni Va’inuku Helu, Sosaia Matekuolava Va’inuku, Losali Dyna Maluofi ki Tonga Va’inuku Angilau, Vikia Sione ‘Inoke Kolipoki Va’inuku and Salome Tangiteina Tuli Ki Hala Kakau Va’inuku Tupou including several aunts and uncles, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will as follow: Family Viewing/Family Home Evening Sunday, March 28, 2021 Riverside Chapel 660 N. Redwood Road Salt Lake City, UT. 84116 5:00pm - 9:30pm Family Viewing Monday, March 29, 2021 Riverside Chapel 660 N. Redwood Road Salt Lake City, UT. 84116 8:00am - 11:30am Bishop’s Program Monday, March 29, 2021 Riverside Chapel 660 N. Redwood Road Salt Lake City, UT. 84116 12:00pm - 1:00pm Burial Tooele City Cemetery 361 S. 100 W. Tooele, UT. 84074