Joseph Sklenar

Joseph J Sklenar was born October 4, 1935, to Joseph M and Della Sklenar of Pilsen, Kansas.  Joe grew up in the Pilsen and St John Nepomucene Church Community and graduated from Marion High School in 1954. After graduation, Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served as an airplane mechanic. He was stationed in Fairbanks, AK then Abilene, TX where he met and married Edith Rozelle Hatton of Ranger, TX in 1960.  Their daughter, Janice, was born at Dyess AFB in 1961 and their son, Joseph Matthew, was born in 1962 while they were stationed in Austin, TX at Bergstrom AFB. 

After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Joe and Rozelle moved their family to Arlington, TX where Joe was employed by General Motors.  In 1967 Joe accepted a job with American Airlines in Tulsa, OK where he was employed for 29 years as a jet engine mechanic before retiring in 1996. 

Joe and Rozelle lived and raised their family in Owasso, OK and the parish of St Henry’s until 2000.  In 2000 Joe built Rozelle her dream home on the Marion County Lake.  Joe continued living in Marion, KS after Rozelle passed away in 2004. In 2014 Joe moved to Tulsa to be near family. 

After a long illness, Joe passed away peacefully on December 11, 2018, at The Gardens of Sapulpa under the care of Rose Rock Hospice.  

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Rozelle, his brother, Donald Sklenar, and two grandsons, Jordan Thomas Wiles, and Adam Blake Sklenar. 

Joe is survived by his brother, Lloyd Sklenar, of Pilsen, his daughter Janice Wiles (Thomas) of Cincinnati, OH and his son, Joseph Matthew (Regina) of Bixby, OK. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Jessica Fischbach (AJ) and Jacob Wiles (Lexi) both of Cincinnati, OH and Jill Sklenar and Sara Roach of Tulsa, a great-grandson, Landen Beartusk and by Joe’s faithful companion, his cat Dutch.

Joe loved to travel, hunt, fish, eat BBQ, listen to Polka music and work with his hands but most of all loved celebrating with family and friends. We would like to thank his caregivers and family and friends who loved and supported him through these last difficult months. Joe was very proud of growing up on a farm in Pilsen and loved the beautiful St John Nepomucene Church. He often shared with his children stories of Fr. Emil Kapaun, so we ask that instead of flowers, donations be sent to the Fr Kapaun Legacy Fund, c/o Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm Street Marion, KS 66861.

Joe will rest in peace next to Rozelle at the Pilsen Cemetery following a Rosary @ 10 a.m. and Mass of Christian burial @ 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018, at St John Nepomucene Catholic Church, the intersection of Remington Rd and 275th Str., Pilsen KS 66861.