Teddy Thomas Lagoski,97, died after a brief illness, in the early morning of January 1, 2020, while a patient in Kansas City Hospice House.
Ted was born September 22, 1922 to Walenty and Agnes(Jaskot) Lagoski in Kansas City, Kansas. He was a resident of Kansas City, Kansas attending St. Joseph Catholic Grade School and Bishop Ward High School. Following graduation in 1941, he work in the automotive parts industry.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ted joined the Marine Corps, leaving for San Diego on December 11, 1941. Ted served as a cook. In 1942, he was promoted to chief cook for the paratrooper training school at Camp Gillespie, San Diego. He continued his Marine career in the Pacific offensive and completed his tour of duty in Tientsen, China in December 1945.
Returning to civilian life, he resumed working in the automobile industry.
Ted finally met his war time pen pal, Betty Jane Valentine in February 1946 and they married on May 4,1946. This union produced 8 children. He often remarked in his later years, that she was the love of his life.
Ted, who always dreamed of owning a farm, moved his family to Leavenworth in 1966. He was a "gentleman" farmer who split his time with farming and his job with CF Bender, Co. He and Betty worked together on the small farm, and over time started a small Grade A dairy. Although it was hard work, it was a prideful accomplishment. Betty died in 1979.
Ted married Rosemary Myszka in 1985. He retired as VP of CF Bender in 1987. Rosemary and Ted enjoyed his early retirement years traveling to different locations, both foreign and domestic. They often traveled with a group of Polka loving friends enjoying dances with Don Lipovac. She introduced him to the world of book reading, something he never had time to do raising 8 children and working on his farm. The Public library had a list of his favorite authors and would call if a new one had arrived. He especially loved murder mysteries.
RoseMary and Ted moved to Piper, Kansas in 1999. Rose Mary died in 2011. Ted filled his loneliness in the last six years with another companion, Piper. She was his four legged “buddy”. She would wait for him in the morning, hop on his walker and enjoy aride as he made his way into the kitchen to make breakfast for the two of them. He would talk to her and laugh out loud with her silly antics. His house was filled with cat toys for her amusement as well as his. When the family decided Ted might function better in a senior living environment, the one chosen allowed Piper to move with him. It made him smile to see her watch through a window overlooking the walkway to see when he was coming back home to her.
Besides his wives, he was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers, Joseph and Louis, Half-sister Anna Rose, and sisters, Stella Hoytal and Helen Gorman, daughter-in-law Kathy, grandson Sean Michael and, son Ted, Jr.(2015).
Ted is survived by sons, Joseph, Overland Park, Michael(Mary Jo),Lubbock, Texas, Edward(Marla), Greenville, Wisconsin, and Herbert(Christy), Overland Park, and daughters Christina Steger(John), Overland Park, Antonita Walton(Dean), Lenexa and, Margaret Evrard (Scott), Leavenworth.
His stepchildren Edmund Myszka, Jan Butcher, and David Myszka.
His “adopted” daughter Cathy Gergick(Fern Park, Florida) and her family.
Ted leaves behind 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Numerous step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and his beloved Piper.
A cremation is planned.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Holy Angels Catholic Church, Basehor, Kansas. A rosary will be recited at 9:00, followed by visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30. He will be interred in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Lansing, Kansas following the service.
In lieu of flowers donations, in his name, can be made to the Holy Angels adoration chapel, Basehor, Kansas.
The family would also like to thank Phyllis Billups and Mary Jury, who assisted him with his home care for the past few years. These lovely ladies allowed Ted a sense of independent living before moving to his Senior living apartment. Also, a thank you to the entire staff at the Atriums Senior Living Residence, as they helped Ted settle into his new apartment.