Memorials › Leo J. Ruzicka
Leo J. Ruzicka
23 Aug 1921 – 27 Aug 2007
| Birth | 23 Aug 1921 |
| Death | 27 Aug 2007 |
| Cemetery | Resthaven Memorial Park Lubbock , Lubbock County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Janice Williams Langley on 02 Sep 2007 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21250526 |
Bio
LUBBOCK - Leo J. Ruzicka, 86, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Resthaven Funeral Home Abbey Chapel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St. John Neumann Catholic Church with Monsignor Joseph Tash officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park. Mr. Ruzicka was born Aug. 23, 1921, in Abbott to the late Leo M. and Frances Marek Ruzicka. He graduated from Abbott public schools and Hillsboro Junior College. He attended the University of Texas prior to entering the U.S. Army Air Forces, where he received his Silver Wings at Stockton Field in Santa Anna, Calif., advanced to a first lieutenant and became a pilot instructor at Randolph Field in San Antonio from Feb. 6, 1943, through Jan. 9, 1946. He moved to the South Plains with his family from Abbott, as he was helping to build and open County Line Gin, outside Morton. He taught school at Pep, where he met the love of his life, Margaret "Mike" Demel. They married on Aug. 17, 1948, in Pep, and shared a loving marriage for the past 59 years. His achievements include partnering and mentoring other fine people in cotton ginning, delinting and several farming ventures. Due to his respect in the business, he was nominated for the Texas Cotton Ginners' Association Ginner of the Year in 1996. He established West Hub Gin, near Friona and Bovina, in 1954, where he and his wife raised their five children until 1976, when they moved to Lubbock. He never retired. Instead, he enjoyed going to the farms and stayed active mentally and physically until recently being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was a member of St. John Neumann. He was preceded in death by a sister, Eveline Greener. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; a son William "Bill" and wife Victoria; four daughters, Rhonda Cutair and husband Ray Fournier and Donna Pevehouse and husband Billy, all of Amarillo, Linda Herbert and husband Kevin of Greenville and Margaret "Noni" Love and husband Cody of Lubbock; a brother, Jerry Ruzicka of Lubbock; two sisters, Mollie Beseda and Frances Wilkerson, both of Lubbock; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be for pancreatic research, American Cancer Society, Lubbock Office, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock, TX 79423. Pallbearers include Mark Ruzicka, Larry Beseda, Marty Demel, Miles Demel, Billy Demel and Rory Brito. Honorary pallbearers are Norton Baker, Coy Myrick, David Rodriguez, Stanley Degan, Arthur Summers, Buzz Poage, John Marek and Jerry Walker. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 30, 2007
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Siblings
- Mollie Philomena Ruzicka Beseda 1919–2008
- Eveline Frances Greener 1927–2006
- Frances Marie Ruzicka Wilkerson 1929–2014
- Jerry Frank Ruzicka 1934–2012
Children
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