|
Frank Xavier Lenard died March 12, 2005 at the Albuquerque VA Hospital. Frank was born in Veltroby, Czech Republic on December 3, 1916. He escaped Nazi Germany in 1941 by traveling through the coal mines of Austria into Yugoslavia, then traveled to the Ukraine and crossed Russia on the Trans-Siberian railroad. He boarded a Japanese freighter at Vladivostok and came to Los Angeles in July 1941 with only a suitcase of clothes and a tremendous will to succeed. He found his first job as a dishwasher in a hotel in Seattle, WA and within a few months became the second chef. Rather than enjoy a sizable salary as a chef, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, fought in WWII, was seriously injured in an aircraft accident and was medically retired in 1943 at the rank of Technical Sergeant. He became a U.S. citizen in 1943. He was married to the former Josephine Thomas of Aberdeen, WA, whom he met in a movie theater after hearing her speak Czech. He worked as a service supervisor for the National Cash Register Company for 35 years, starting his career in southern California, but eventually settling in Portland, OR. For relaxation he enjoyed bowling and deep sea fishing, but he found solace on a farm tractor, managing a farming operation covering 600 acres, 120 cattle, and numerous hogs. Although he retired from NCR, Frank was not the retiring type; he started two successful delicatessens in the Portland, OR area. He moved to Albuquerque in 1995 and purchased the La Fontana apartment complex. He resided in Four Hills after selling the apartment complex in 2001. He is survived by two daughters and a son and five grandchildren. Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Moriarty on April 9, 2005 at 2 p.m. For details please call 379-7722.
|
