Kratochvil, Gary Lee, 1943-2016

KRATOCHVIL, ANDERSON, LYKKEN

Posted By: Mary L Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/6/2017 at 19:16:45

Gary Lee Kratochvil, 72, of Sioux Falls died March 24, 2016 in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tues. March 29, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.

Gary Lee Kratochvil was born April 20, 1943 to Charles and Maxine (Anderson) Kratochvil in Hawarden. He was raised on a farm southeast of Alcester, was active in 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. He graduated from Alcester High School. While in high school, Gary was active in band and participated in all sports. Gary was a student at both SDSU in Brookings and USD in Vermillion.

He married Karen Lykken on March 22, 1963. While their children were growing, he volunteered as an Indian Guides Leader through the YMCA and coached Little League softball.

Gary worked in sales for years, starting in the Twin Cities, then moving his family to Sioux Falls in 1971 where he co-owned Walden Carpets. He later worked independently as a carpet representative, developing his own agency.
Tennis, fishing, golf and international travel with Karen, family and friends were the activities he enjoyed.

Survivors include his wife, a son, Todd of Minneapolis, MN; two grandchildren, Austin and Ashley Mielke; a son-in-law, Steve Mielke of Hartford, S.D.; a sister, JoAnne (Wayne) Kratz of Maple Grove, MN; four sisters-in-law, Barb (Dennis) Dahlin, Marie Lykken, Diane (Bill) Bruns and Nancy (Steve) Bell; three brothers-in-law, Kerwyn (Rachel) Lykken, David Lykken and Mike Dalton; four aunts, Mary Reppe of Alcester, Audrey Gaul and Irene Gosch of Hawarden and Dorothy Kratochvil of Brookings, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tamara "Tami" Mielke, in 2014.

Source: Hawarden Independent 3/31/2016