Loren Emil Podhajsky
Loren Emil Podhajsky
Loren Emil Podhajsky, age 73, passed away on December 7, 2018 at Research Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri after a 17-month valiant fight with Leukemia.
A memorial service for Loren was held on Thursday, December 13, at Crosspoints Church in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
Loren was born on February 18, 1945 in Toledo, Iowa to Emil and Lillian Axler Podhajsky and grew up on the family farm southwest of Traer. He attended Carroll #3 country school and graduated from Traer High School in 1963, taking over the family farm. He joined the Army Reserves in Aug 1966 and served his country. When he obtained his pilots license in 1966, flying became one of his greatest pleasures.
On June 8, 1968, he was united in marriage to Laura Tompkins at St Wenceslaus Catholic Church, rural Clutier, Iowa. They were the parents of Leon and Lynn. They later divorced. On February 20, 1982, he was united in marriage to Cathy Koch at St. Edwards Catholic Church, Waterloo, Iowa. To this union were born Brett and Lindsay.
In 1985, Loren and Cathy sold the family farm and moved to Colorado. In 1987, they moved to Olathe, Kansas and Loren worked as a general contractor in the home remodeling business, retiring in July 2017 due to the beginning of a lengthy illness.
Loren loved life and was an honest, hard woirking man. He was a master craftsman in woodworking and loved working with his hands;. As a skillful mechanic, he could fix just about anything. In later years, he continued his love for farming, helping his Army buddy and friend, Duane Kehe, at Readlyn, Iowa with spring planting and fall harvesting of the crops.
Loren enjoyed gardening, flying, road trips, and World War II history He loved all animals especially his cats. He never missed an opportunity to drive up Pikes Peak while in Colorado to visit family. His greatest pleasure was spending time with family.. .
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Cathy, of Olathe, Kansas; two daughters, Lynn (Jacob) Martinez of New Orleans, Louisiana and Dr Lindsay Podhajsky of Daytona Beach, Florida; two sons, Leon Podhajsky and Brett Podhajsky of Olathe, Kansas; one sister, Marcella (Bill) Pults of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his mother-in-law, Delores Koch of Olathe, Kansas; two aunts, Ida Kosnar and Julia Kubik of Traer, cousins, nieces and nephews
Loren was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Paul Koch.