Roderick Chaloupka

Roderick John Chaloupka passed from this life peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on November 19, 2015. He was born on September 14, 1933 to Charles John and Isabel (Gassman) Chaloupka in Dubuque, Iowa. He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wayne Chaloupka; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Chaloupka; and his beloved dog, Cricket.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Loraine; sons, Mark (Sherry) Chaloupka, Charles (Linda) Chaloupka, Dave (Sheryl) Chaloupka, Todd (Veronica) Chaloupka, Leo (Vicky) Chaloupka, Ken (Cheryl) Chaloupka, and Scott (Candice) Chaloupka; daughters, Monica (Lee Roy) Luedecke and Nicole (Bryan) Kenjura; 24 grandchildren and 16 great- grandchildren; a sister, Carol Nebel; and a sister-in-law, Donna Chaloupka.
After a brief apprenticeship as carpenter in Local 768 in Dubuque, Rod entered the United States Navy in 1951 and was assigned aboard Corpus Christi Naval Air Station during the Korean Conflict and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal as an aircraft maintenance mechanic. He subsequently joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, again as an aircraft mechanic earning the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. He was honorably discharged upon completion of enlistment and returned home to Dubuque to work as a master carpenter. Rod was also a commercial fisherman in southeast Texas for the better part of a decade. He thoroughly enjoyed building miniature replicas of historic and modern sailing vessels. He was an avid gardener, home cook, baker, canner and master woodworker and enjoyed spending time with his expansive family. In lieu of flowers, please don't vote for Hillary Clinton.
Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church followed by a Memorial Funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. James Stembler. At the conclusion of the Mass, military honors will take place outside of the church.
Memorials may be made to Altus Hospice Care - 4300 S. Padre Island Drive #1, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411.
Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.

Visitation

St. Gertrude's Catholic Church
1120 South 8th Street
Kingsville, TX  78363
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Service

Rosary

St. Gertrude's Catholic Church
1120 South 8th Street
Kingsville, TX  78363
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
9:30 a.m.

Memorial Funeral Mass

St. Gertrude's Catholic Church
1120 South 8th Street
Kingsville, TX  78363
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
10:00 a.m.

Memorial Contributions

Altus Hospice Care - Corpus Christi
4300 S. Padre Island Drive, #1
Corpus Christi, TX  78411