He was born November 26, 1938 in Wharton County, Texas to Fred and Bessie (Orsak) Pyka. On December 30, 1961 Paul married the love of his life, Iris Lanelle Johnson. They spent 56 wonderful years together.
Paul served in the Army and Texas National Guard, and received his A&P License from Spartan School of Aeronautics. After that, he worked at Mosher Steel Company for 10 years, and Dresser Industry/Cooper Tools from 1974 until retirement in August 2002. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Member of the Men’s Club and The Golden Youth Group. He was also a member of the Experimental Aircraft Associations and had built an experimental aircraft after retirement. He enjoyed working on his plane, fishing and taking vacations with his grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, George Pyka, Robert Pyka, August Pyka, and Sister Bessie Svetlik.
Paul is survived by wife Iris Lanelle (Johnson) Pyka; daughter Tracy Pyka (husband William Culhane) of Austin; grandchildren Miles Pyka, Viktoria Pyka and Cory Culhane; sister Dorothy Tesar of Wharton; brother, Fred Pyka (wife Karen) of Wharton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers: Bill Culhane, Miles Pyka, Patrick Valentine, Kenneth Pyka, Steve Pyka, Wayne Warren, Rick Thornton and Michael Svetlik.
A visitation for Paul will be held Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 4213 Mangum Rd, Houston, Texas 77092, with the rosary at 9:30 am and mass to follow at 10:00 AM. A rite of committal will occur Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 3:00 PM at Evergreen Memorial Park, 3511 East Alabama Rd, Wharton, Texas 77488.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com for the Pyka family.
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