Peter Nicholas Truta, 71, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away April 10, 2021 at home. Funeral service will be 10:30 am on Friday, April 16, 2021 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 71st and Metcalf, in Overland Park, KS. A graveside ceremony will follow at Shawnee Memory Gardens near K-7 and 75th Street in Shawnee, where he will be buried. Friends may call at 9:30 am on Friday, April 16th preceding the funeral at Queen of the Holy Rosary.
Peter was born November 8, 1949 in Quantico, Virginia to Peter and Eugenia (Radu) Truta. Peter graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio, where he grew up. He received a degree in biology from Kent State University in Kent, OH. Following graduation, Peter moved to Houston, Texas to work as a carpenter, building houses for Fox & Jacobs. While living in Texas, he would meet Marsha Collins, whom he married on September 30, 1978 at St. John Vianney Church in Houston, Texas. One year later his first son, Bryan, was born in Memorial City Hospital in Houston.
Peter would later attend Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS, where he received a degree in drafting and was a student-teacher. During his time at Pittsburg State, Peter worked as a draftsman with Helio Aircraft Company of Southeast Kansas, where he designed the nose cone of an airplane that was actually used in production. Following his time at PSU, Peter and family moved to Overland Park, KS, and he began a career as a draftsman at Butler Manufacturing in Kansas City, Missouri. His second son, Brandon, was then born at Shawnee Mission Hospital in Overland Park.
After several years, Peter left Butler Manufacturing to begin his own carpentry business. For the next few decades he built kitchens, bathrooms, decks and home additions for many fellow parishioners from Queen of the Holy Rosary. Being self-employed allowed Peter the freedom to be active with his family. He was a member of the church and school boards, a room parent, and coached soccer, basketball, softball and roller hockey. He attended every field trip from the Symphony to the Grand Canyon with his boys. Peter was a Cub and Boy Scout Leader, attending many campouts and summer camps at Camp Naish in Bonner Springs. He was a charter member of the Father Carl Zawacki Council of the Knights of Columbus at Queen of the Holy Rosary, and was integral to its formation. He attained his Third Degree and Fourth Degree, and in recognition of his long service was named Honorary Life member.
Sports were a part of Peter’s life, from coaching his sons and their teams to bowling with the Knights of Columbus team. He was also an avid fan of the Chiefs, Royals and Sporting KC. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family and relished each Thanksgiving when the entire family would hide away at a cabin near Lake Stockton for a long weekend of food and games.
After his boys were grown, Peter was delighted to enjoy time with his granddaughter, Adi. He spent a lot of time in the summer with her, doing activities and going on adventures. He loved watching her many sporting events, from volleyball to softball. Every year for Adi’s birthday, Peter could be found painting decorations or building elaborate sets for her parties. He constructed a playhouse with loft in her bedroom. When Adi began school, Peter helped at her activities as well. He was proud when Adi wore the traditional Romanian dress for International Day at school, a nod to his family’s heritage.
Peter was diagnosed in October 2018 with Stage 4 kidney cancer metastasized to the liver. He was also being treated for A-Fib and congestive heart failure. Of his several trips to the hospital over the years, it was never the cancer which bothered him, and he never complained. In the end, Peter’s heart and body fought as best it could for more than 30 months, but he was tired.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his paternal and maternal grandparents; nephew, Jason Miskell; and several aunts and uncles.
Survivors include his wife, Marsha Truta of Overland Park, KS; sons, Bryan Truta (Donielle) of Shawnee, KS and Brandon Truta (Kelli) of Overland Park, KS; granddaughter, Adi Truta of Shawnee, KS; special family members, Adisen and Griffin Allen of Overland Park, KS. Peter is also survived by his sister, Jean Loy (Richard) of Warren, Ohio; brother, Ken Truta (Margie) of Poland, OH and sister-in-law, Kathryn Sramek (Terry Scott) of Dallas, Texas. Pete’s nieces and nephews include, Allison Staines (James) of London, United Kingdom; Brooke Bray (Jeff) and son, Max, of San Francisco, California; Christopher Miskell (Beth) and daughters, Isabella, Emma, and Hallie of Powell, Ohio.
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