Karol Dujka

great grandfather passed away at the age of 94. Karol was preceded in

death by his parents, sister and two brothers, and wife Rosemary.

Karol Dujka was born January 28, 1929 to Anna and Thomas Dujka in

Czechoslovakia. When he was several months old his parents immigrated

to Montreal, Canada leaving him and his sister Mary (Zipay) with their

paternal and maternal grandparents respectively. In 1938 Mary and

Karol left Czechoslovakia and they saw the Nazis drilling as they

traveled through Germany by train. They crossed the ocean on the RMS

Aleunia to join their parents and meet younger brothers Milan and

Edward.

Karol met Rosemary Kuhrik from Granite City, Illinois when she

traveled to Montreal to visit her sister. They were engaged after many

letters and just four dates and got married November 12, 1955. They

were married 64 years and had four children: Rose (Gregor), Carolyn

(Willard), John, and Tom.

Karol worked retail sales in Canada and in St Louis. He and Rosemary

moved to Chicago where he attended Concordia River Forest College in

Illinois and became a teacher in 1961. He taught elementary school at

St Paul’s Lutheran in Bonduel, WI and in District 7, Edwardsville, IL.

Karol and Rosemary retired, built their mountain home in 1992 and

moved to Glenwood Springs, CO. Karol was a popular greeter at the

local Wal-Mart and where he chatted with locals, tourists, Aspen

celebrities, and had his picture taken with the Swedish Women’s

Olympic ski team.

Karol moved to Carmel, IN in 2019 after his wife passed. He was active

in International Friends (a program that teaches American English and

Culture to people new to the United States), displayed his watercolor

paintings at the Cool Creek Park Nature's Inspiration art show, and

strummed with the ukulele club at Cornerstone Lutheran Church until

the COVID pandemic lock-downs kept him confined to his senior living

facilities.

Karol was fluent in Slovak, French (Canadian), and English. He was

picking up Spanish and Japanese. He had citizenship in Czechoslovakia,

Canada, and the United States. He loved teasing people and always had

a ready joke. He enjoyed coffee, singing, fishing, woodworking, and

repairing anything and everything. Karol’s kindness and humor brought

joy to all who met him.

Karol lived at Sunrise On Old Meridian in Carmel, IN where he was

loved and well cared for until his passing on January 31, 2023. He

celebrated his 94th birthday on January 28 and passed peacefully

surrounded by his family listening to his favorite song: Cool Water by

the Sons of the Pioneers.

He is survived by his four children, 10 grandchildren, and six great

grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at

11:00 AM with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM at Cornerstone

Lutheran Church, 4850 East Main Street, Carmel, IN, 46033.