Theodore Joseph "Ted" Gondek 1916 - 2004

GONDEK, PETRONSKI, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/16/2015 at 10:40:05

Sioux City Journal
20 August 2004

Theodore Joseph "Ted" Gondek, 87, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004, at a Sioux City hospital.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Alex T. Washington officiating. A military flag presentation will be at the conclusion of the service. Burial will be at a later date in Fort Leavenworth (Kan.) National Cemetery beside his wife. Visitation will be one prior to the service at the funeral home.

Ted Gondek was born Sept. 5, 1916, in Lowell, Mass., the son of Paul and Zofia (Petronski) Gondek. He grew up in the Boston area until he enlisted and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He later joined and served with the Air Force Reserve until 1957. He had lived in Sioux City since 1942. He worked for Metz Baking Co. for 25 years and was known as "Ted the Bread Man."

He married Lillian M. "Smitty" Schmidt on Sept. 1, 1943 at the Sioux City Air Base where his wife was an Army nurse. She died July 11, 2003, in Sioux City.

Ted was a dedicated volunteer at St. Luke's patient information desk for the last 25 years. He was a member of the Teamsters Union, SCORE, American Legion Monahan Post 64, a 20-year member of the Siouxland Y and an honorary member of the Elks Club. Through his contact with people, he felt that no one needed to be a stranger.

Survivors include three sons and their wives, Roger and Judy Gondek of Wichita, Kan., Dennis and Judy Gondek of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Russ and Gretchen Gondek of Sioux City; a brother and his wife, Gene and Evelyn Gondek of Dayton, Ohio; six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Lillian M. and Theodore J. Gondek Scholarship at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.