Helen Rose Lombardo

Helen Rose Lombardo, 91, of Kansas City, MO passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Born to Joseph and Emma (Barta) Vosejpka on their farm in Rice County, Minnesota on August 7, 1923, Helen enlisted in the Navy during WWII. Initially rejected as a parachute rigger because of her short stature, she made her Navy dress uniform while on leave to prove her skill and qualify her to proudly serve R4D Fighter Squadron, NAS Miami. After the war she attended airline stewardess and radio operator training schools in Kansas City and worked for TWA where she met her first husband, Leslie Mingauw. While raising her two children she worked in administration for both the St. Luke’s Hospital and the Gas Service Company where she retired after 28 years. In her “spare” time she loved to bake artisan breads and gourmet cakes for family, friends and co-workers, and made every birthday and holiday special. She traveled with family, including her second husband, Joseph D. Lombardo, through Hawaii, Alaska and many US states, Canada, South America, and was complimented on her Czech fluency (her first language) on European tours. She was a member of the Czech & Slovak Club of Kansas City, homeowners associations in Brookside and the Tuileries, as well as Visitation and Redemptorist parishes.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, David Mingauw, and brother, Stanley Vosejpka. She is survived by her daughter, Diana (Ronald) Johnson of Las Cruces, NM; daughter-in-law, Pamela Mingauw of Haysville, KS; brother, Dr. Charles (Leona) Vosejpka of Henderson, NV; sister-in-law, Phyllis, and niece, Lori Vosejpka of St. Paul, MN; nephew Paul (Laura) Vosejpka of Midland, MI, and many friends, neighbors and co-workers. Her Memorial Mass and reception will be Saturday, April 18th at Brookdale Wornall Place (501 West 107th Street) starting at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to the American Red Cross or favorite charity.