Ptacek, Joseph Lester (1908-2000)

PTACEK, STRAKA, WHELAN, RUSH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 1/1/2015 at 16:46:53

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, October 16, 2000

Dr. J.L. Ptacek, 92, Webster City, died Sunday, Oct. 15th, 2000 at the Hamilton Hospital in Webster City. Dr. Ptacek was cremated. Memorial
services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Congregational Church with Rev. James Buffington officiating.

Joseph Lester Ptacek, son of Anton and Mary Straka Ptacek, was born July 13, 1908 at David City, NE. At the age of three, he moved with his family to Emporia, Kan. He graduated from the Emporia High School. In 1929, he received a degree in nursing from the College of Emporia. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio and began his training at the Case Western Reserve. In June of 1933, he received his medical degree. He served his internship and residency at Westchester County Hospital in New York. He entered into a practice at Council Grove, Kan. for in July, 1936 he married Florence Whelan at Enid, Okla. The couple resided in Council Grove for five years. They moved to Webster City in April of 1941. He continued the practice of Dr. G.T. McCauliff. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a flight surgeon and was stationed in England, France and Germany. Following his discharge, he returned to his practice in Webster City. He retired from practice in January of 1979. Mrs. Ptacek died on August 7, 1995.

Survivors are his son and daughter-in-law, John and Linda Ptacek, Nevada; daughter Susan Ptacek of Arlington, Va., daughter-in-law, Judy Ptacek Rush of Des Moines, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Peter Ptacek in 1978, his parents, five brothers and two sisters.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church, a lifetime member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Hamilton Hospital Foundation or the Webster City School Foundation.