Leo A. Sok

Leo A. Sok, 93, of Loup City, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. The Rev. Marty L. Egging will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post 48 of Loup City. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Sok was born on April 11, 1916, on a farm near Petersburg, the son of Peter and Anna (Wojciechowski) Sok. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Irene Sok of Loup City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and JoAnn Sok of Grand Island, Larry and Bonnie Sok of Glenwood, Iowa and Wayne and Cindy Sok of Loveville, MD; and one sister, Frances Adams of Lincoln, CA. He is also survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. As a young boy he moved to Sherman County with his family to a farm north of Loup City, where he attended Sherman County rural schools. He then worked as a cream tester for J.J. Dilla Produce Company and P.J. Kowalski Produce Company, both in Loup City. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Air Corp on Oct. 15, 1940. He took his basic training in San Diego, CA, and then was assigned to the Atlantic flag ship U.S.S. Augusta. While serving aboard the Augusta one of his duties was to guard President Roosevelt after the President boarded the ship and to walk the President’s dog, “Fala”. From Newport, RI, they sailed to Newfoundland where they met with Winston Churchill; there they created the Atlantic Charter. He was later transferred to the Marine Air Force and was then sent to the invasion of the Marshall Islands. He was united in marriage to Irene M. Lewandowski on Nov. 27, 1944, at Loup City. He continued his military service until his discharge on March 31, 1947. The couple lived in Los Angeles where he was employed by L.A. Transit Lines as a city bus driver. In 1951, they returned to Nebraska where they farmed for several years before moving into Loup City where he worked at the Co-Op Service Station and Creamery. In 1967, he went to work for Sperry New Holland in Grand Island, from which he retired after 13 ½ years. Leo was a member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church where he sang in the church choir for many years. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 48 and VFW Post 7027, both of Loup City. He enjoyed riding horses, farming, gardening and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; seven sisters, infant Zophia Sok, Stella Konwinski, Palonia “Peggy” Sok, Sr. M. Marysia, Sr. M. Pauline, Sr. M. Lourdine and Theresa Marshall; and four brothers, John, Frank, Mike and Floyd Sok. Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice.