Victor M. Tamashunas (1925-2015)
TAMASHUNAS, ROZMAN, DIRKS, SYSLO, BICE, HASTRIETER, THOMAS, SIMMS
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 9/26/2015 at 12:37:21
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Victor M. Tamashunas was born September 21, 1925 to immigrant parents John and Veronica (Rozman) Tamashunas in the Greenville section of Sioux City, Iowa. All of his youthful days were spent there and he remembered selling newspapers in downtown Sioux City for 3 cents - making a penny for each one sold; and that 5 cents would get you into a movie. He graduated from East High School in 1943 and then enrolled at Morningside College. Vic remained there until January of 1944, when he entered the service at Ft. Crook, NE (now Offutt AFB).
After 17 weeks of artillery basic training at Ft. Sill, OK, Vic went overseas by air from LaGuardia to Karachi. With 25 others, he formed the nucleus of the 5th Field Artillery Sound-Ranging Platoon at Ramgarh. Trained in the location and direction of artillery fire, they were assigned to the Chinese First Army and joined in the Burma campaign until the fall of Lashio. In April of '45, Vic went to China and stayed there until the war was over, serving with the army group pushing toward Canton and Hong Kong. He then was mustered out as a corporal and returned to Sioux City and Morningside College.
Vic transferred to Iowa State University in Ames, graduating in 1950 with a BS degree in general engineering. His first job was as an industrial engineer in Omaha, where he met Doris Dirks in September. They were married the following year in October and relocated to Lincoln, where Vic joined the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as an I.E. with many diversified activities. It was in Lincoln that children John and Victoria were born. The family stayed there until 1956 when Vic elected to become part of the engineering faculty at Iowa State University, where he had a long and distinguished career. Vic started as an instructor, received his Master of Science in 1959, and became a full professor.
His memberships and honors were manifold and include: Registered Professional Engineer, Senior Member of the American Institute of IE's, Professor of the Year-College of Engineering, AIIE Region IX Engineer of the Year and Member College Advisory Council Materials Handling Institute, Vice President Region XI, American Institute of Industrial Engineers (1977-1979) and serving with Governor Ray on the Governor’s Committee on Emergency Planning & Civil Defense. He joined the Graduate Faculty in 1974 and gave thesis direction to candidates for advanced degrees from around the world. But for all of his achievements Vic valued his time with his students the most.
Vic retired as Emeritus Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from ISU in June of 1991. His wife, Doris, died in April of 2000 and two weeks later Vic moved to the independent living complex at Windsor Oaks, living there for 14 years. In January of 2014, he moved to assisted living at Waterford.
He will always be remembered for his pride in being from Sioux City, being past National Commander of the CBIVA (China Burma India Veterans Association), his avid support of ISU’s women’s basketball team, going to see plays at Actors, the Lions Club, his book of birth dates and never forgetting one, good food (especially a good breakfast), lemon slices in his water, hot soup, dancing for Red Friars at the Memorial Union, ball room dancing at Lake Robbins, big band and swing music, concerts, a love for history and travel, being Lithuanian, and most of all having fun and spending time with his family and friends.
Vic is survived by his daughter, Vicki (Meryl) Syslo and their children, Ted and Anne, of Robbinsdale, MN; his son, John Tamashunas of Ankeny and his children, Sara (Brandon) Bice and their son Parker of Grimes: Michael (Sharon) Tamashunas and their daughter, Jamie of Ames; his special dear friend, LaVonne Schumann of Ames; and his sister-in-law, Terri Hastrieter of Humphrey, Neb. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris; four siblings; and his sisters-in-law, Anne Thomas and Bernadette Simms.
Thanks to McFarland Clinic (Dr. Skinner and nurse Deb), the Iowa Heart Clinic (Dr. Sorrentino and Dr. Sarda), Mary Greeley Hospice, and the staff at Waterford Assisted Living for providing such wonderful and personal care for Vic.
If you choose, memorials can be sent to Mary Greeley Hospice or to the ISU Foundation Vic Tamashunas Scholarship Fund.
A Mass of Christian Burial
AUG 29. 10:00 AM
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
2900 Hoover Ave.
Ames, IA, US, 50010Graveside Service
AUG 29. 11:00 AM
Ames Municipal Cemetery
310 E 9th St.
Ames, IA, US
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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