Lawrence Eugene ("Larry") Kalkowski

Lawrence "Larry" Kalkowski, 78, of Ogallala, died July 11, 2016, in the Sterling Colorado Regional Medical Center.

Lawrence Eugene Kalkowski was born September 26, 1937 in Comstock, Nebraska, the son of Edward John and Agnes Anne (Jarosz) Kalkowski. Lawrence received his early education in Ogallala schools, graduating from high school on May 25, 1956. Larry lettered in football, basketball and track and played several years of Junior Legion Baseball. While participating in sports, Larry was an outstanding football and basketball player as well as a top pitcher for the baseball team. His basketball team played for the state championship in Lincoln in 1955. He was recognized with an Honorable Mention All State by the Omaha World Herald. Larry was awarded the Dutch Trophy for outstanding athleticism in 1956.

After attending McCook Junior College he attended Colorado State College (University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, graduating in 1968. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

On December 22, 1962, he was united in marriage to Peggy Wrigley at Ogallala. They later divorced.

He married Janet Elrod on March 20, 1966. They also divorced. Larry spent several years teaching high school and he was in various businesses including car sales at Bill Hogan Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership in Bennington, Vermont.

He semi-retired in 1983 and in 1985 he bought the Lewellen Cafe in Lewellen, NE. He sold the cafe in 1987 and moved to LasVegas, where he worked part-time as a substitute teacher in the Clark County school system and also for Burns International Security.

On January 3, 1992, Larry married Ruth E. Lee in Fargo, ND. The couple later divorced. He moved to Ogallala in 2015. His hobbies included fishing and watching college football and basketball.

Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers: Melvin Kalkowski and Edward Kalkowski; and five sisters: Bernadine Peterson, Loretta Fordyce, Pauline Thomas, Connie Rice, and infant Katherine Kalkowski.

Survivors include his daughter Laura and her husband Mike Anderson of Larkspur, CO and three grandchildren: Michael, Sarah, and Mitch. The family chose cremation.

The Rosary Service will be Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m. in St. Lukes Catholic Church, followed by the Memorial Mass at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Bryan Ernest the Celebrant. The Service will be live streamed from drauckerfuneralhome.com, for those unable to attend. Inurnment is in the Ogallala Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Ogallala High School Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences may be sent by signing the Guest Book at www.drauckerfh.com.  Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.

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