Bernard (Bernie) J. Smolczyk

Friday, June 6, 2014

April 7, 1933 -- May 29, 2014

WESTCLIFFE, Colorado -- Bernard (Bernie) J. Smolczyk passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014, at his home in Westcliffe, Colorado. He was 81 years old.

Bernie was born on April 7, 1933, in Ogallala, Nebraska, to parents, Robert and Bernadette (McCroden) Smolczyk. He graduated from Ogallala High School in 1951.

Bernie is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary, of Westcliffe, Colo. and the mother of his children, Jo Smolczyk, of McCook; his daughter, Dee and husband, Mark Friehe, of McCook; his son, Rick Smolczyk and wife, Patty, of Omaha, Nebraska; his daughter, Angie Pohl of Thornton, Colorado; and his daughter, Mindy Kane of Butte, Montana; granddaughter, Amber Baldridge and her sons, Kobe and Karter; granddaughter, Amy and her husband, Tim Gregory, and their sons, Cohen and Blake; granddaughter, Lisa and husband, Trent Lyons, and their daughter, Sophia; granddaughter, Jill and her husband, David Lind, and their daughter, Emma; granddaughter, Heather Pohl and her daughter, Destiny; grandson, Scott Friehe; grandson, Daniel Smolczyk, granddaughter, Nicole Schleeman and grandson, Drew Schleeman. Bernie was also blessed to have four step-children as well: step-daughter, Kathy and husband, David Forgach, of Tucson, Arizona; step-daughter, Bridget and husband, Todd Bandy, of Kansas City, Missouri; step-son, Jeff Noonan and wife, Tammy, of Connecticut; and step-daughter, Jennifer Kelly of Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as 10 step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his only sibling, Roberta (Smolczyk) and her husband Chuck Hildebrand of Ogallala and his nephew, Mike Hildebrand and wife, Connie and their children, Matt, Katy and Mark; niece, Cathy (Hildebrand) and husband, Dave Souder and their children, Nick, Sarah and Michelle; and niece, Cheri Hildebrand.

Bernie was a proud veteran, having served his four years in the Air Force during the Korean War.

After leaving the service, Bernie returned to Ogallala and worked for TRW before being transferred to TRW in McCook. He later worked for Frontier Airlines at the McCook Regional Airport and was transferred to Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, where he worked in the Ground Control Tower until his retirement.

Bernie was an active and devoted member of the Catholic Church his entire life. He and his family were members of St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala and St.Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook, where he was on the St. Patrick's School Board for a period time, and after moving to Denver, he did volunteer work for many charities and missions in the Denver area. In Westcliffe, he was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Bernie was always well-known in the communities in which he lived for his wit, sense of humor and his love of sports, hunting and fishing. He was a die-hard Husker fan his whole life -- even naming his beloved dog, Husker.

Funeral services were in Westcliffe on Monday, June 2, 2014, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholc Church.

Memorials may be given to: Queen of the Apostles Mission Association, PO Box 1676, Castle Rock, CO 80104, www.qama.org