Leonard Vyzourek

Leonard Leroy Vyzourek, 93, of McDonald, died on Dec 30, 2013. He was born Feb 6, 1920 to Frank J. and Nan L. (Bahret) Vyzourek in a sod house near Beardsley. He graduated from McDonald Rural High School in 1938. After graduation he left Rawlins County for Venice, California. He was called into the United States Army in 1941; he served 50 months with Honorable Discharge on Jan 12, 1946. State side duty was at Sunnyvale-Fort Ord, Camp San Luis and Camp Roberts in Calif., Camp Bowie and Ft. Hood, TX. Overseas duty was at Scaffield Barracks, Hawaii, the Islands of Leyte in the Philippines. He married Helen L. Glover on July 4, 1942 and to this union three children were born a daughter Patricia Ann and two sons Leonard L. Jr. and Paul Dennis. Leonard married Darlene A. McCarty on Oct 26, 1976 and to this union one son was born, Treg Alan. He worked as an automotive painter in Los Angeles until returning to Rawlins County to farm in 1958. In 1972 he turned the farm over to Leonard Jr. and he purchased Vyzourek Retail Liquor and operated it until retirement in 1987. He was instrumental in the organization of the baseball program in McDonald, serving as coach, mentor, groundskeeper and bus driver for many area youth. He was a member of the American Legion, Chester Phipps Post 229 from 1958 to 2013, holding every office within the post. He served on the Board of Directors for the Beardsley Coop from 1960 to 1981; thirteen of those years he was secretary of the board. He was a member of the Atwood County Club. More recently he rediscovered his enjoyment for dancing, especially with his special dance partner, Betty Rodgers from Wray, CO. He loved his community, family and especially his grandchildren. There was not a conversation with him that didn’t include his grandchildren in some way.

He is preceded in death by his parents and three grandchildren, Lori, Joshua and Heather.

He is survived by daughter, Patricia Ann (Thomas) Brazil, of Santa Margarita, CA; three sons, Leonard L. Jr. (Pam), of McDonald, Paul Dennis (Marilyn), of Colorado Springs, CO and Treg Alan (Cameron), of North Platte, NE; twenty grandchildren, twenty six great grandchildren and other family and friends

Visitation will be held from 2-7:00pm on Thursday, Jan 2, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral service will be 10:00am on Friday, Jan 3, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Burial will follow in Grace Cemetery, McDonald with Military Honors by the American Legion, Chester Phipps Post 229. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Rawlins County K-18 Baseball Program in care of Baalmann Mortuary 109 N 2nd, Atwood KS 67730. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com