Obituary of Richard Myron Janecky

RICHARD MYRON JANECKY, age 80 of Lodi, passed away in Sacramento on Thursday, April 15, 2004. He was born on December 6, 1923 in Racine, Wisconsin where he grew up and attended local schools. He served in the US Army during WWII in the European Theatre. He was discharge from the army in 1946. Mr. Janecky attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison from 1942-43 and 1946-49, graduating in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in geography. During the summer of l947, while working at Old Canyon Lodge at Yellowstone National Park, he met Lois Margaret McKenzie and they married on June 25, 1949 in Fargo, North Dakota. The couple moved to Kellogg, Minnesota where he taught high school for a year. They moved to Denver, Colorado, and he attended the University of Colorado at Denver and completed a master's degree in education. Following his graduation in 1952 the couople moved to Meeker, Colorado where he taught history from 1952-1957. In 1957, the family moved to Lodi , and he taught geography, history and driver's education at Lodi High School, East Campus and later at West Campus, retiring in 1983. Mr. Janecky enjoyed attending the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, and performances of plays in the city. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lodi and sang in the church choir. He also played trombone in the Lodi Community Band for a few years. He had a special fondness for the history of Yellowstone National Park and all of the National Parks and had backpacked nine of the emblem peaks in the Sierra's. Survived by his wife, Lois Janecky of Lodi; son, David Janecky of Los Alamos, New Mexico; daughters, Sue Chealander of Sammamish, Washington, Karen Johnson of Reno, Nevada; six grandchildren who are: David's children, Gregg and Grant; Sue's children, Michael and Lynn and Karen's children, Miranda and Garrick. He was preceded in death by brothers, George Janecky and Frederick Janecky. A private family graveside service will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Cherokee Memorial Park with Rev. Dr. Alan Kimber officiating. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Oak St., Lodi, Ca 95240. Visitation at Lodi Funeral Home Monday from noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon. Memorial Contributions: Charity of choice.