Date of Birth:
Saturday, April 15, 1950
Date of Death:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Age:
59 years old

Nick Kroska

Nick Kroska 59, of Rochester formerly of St. Paul died peacefully on Wednesday Nov. 25^th 2009 at Season’s Hospice following a courageous six month battle with a brain tumor.

Nick was born April 15, 1950 in Faribault, Minnesota to Lucian and Angela Kroska.  The family moved to Rochester in 1958.  He graduated from Lourdes High School in 1968 and was honored as Student of the Year.  He graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville in 1972.

He taught English at Lourdes High School from 1972-1988.  He was head wrestling coach and assistant track and football coach during his career there.  Following his years at Lourdes he taught in Arizona and California before going to work as a technical writer for an environmental consulting firm in Sacramento.   He combined his love of writing and the environment again when he began working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in St. Paul.

Nick was an inspiring teacher and coach.  Many of his former Lourdes students have thanked him for his dedication, enthusiasm and the influence he had on their lives.  Even through his illness he was often reminded of his challenging “vocabulary quizzes ” and how he encouraged excellence.  He was truly a passionate educator.

He married Pamela Jensen on September 14^th, 1979.  They were later divorced.

He is survived by his two sons Aaron of St. Paul, Brett (Anita) of Tallahassee, Florida; three sisters, Luanne (Larry) Koshire of Rochester, Shelly Kuhlmann of Oronoco, Amy (Robert Clark) Kroska of Norman, Oklahoma; his mother Angela Kroska of Rochester; foster sister Sue (Jon) Birch of Faribault; and special friend Nancy Maren.

Throughout his life Nick was an outdoor enthusiast.  He cherished his duck, pheasant and deer hunting trips with his father, brother-in-law and nephews.

Over the years he also developed an interest in genealogy which led him to research his Polish heritage and study the language.  Nick authored two biographies on the life of his father.   One of his proudest accomplishments was when he was commissioned to write “Serving the Community” The History of Rochester Public Utilities.  This book is in Washington D.C’s Library of Congress.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Tony and Alma Kroska of Faribault, MN; maternal grandparents William and Angela Dudley of Shieldsville, MN; his father Lucian “Dick” Kroska of Rochester and brother-in-law Mike Kuhlmann of Oronoco.

The Kroska family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Season’s Hospice.  Their loving and compassionate care is deeply appreciated.

Visitation is at Macken Funeral Home, Rochester, MN  on Sunday November 29^th from 1pm to 4pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday November 30^th at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester at 11:00am with the Rev. Charlie Collins and Rev. Paul Nelson concelebrating.   A graveside service will follow the funeral at St. Lawrence cemetery in Faribault, MN at 3pm.

Memorials are suggested to the Nick Kroska Scholarship Fund at Lourdes High School 621 West Center Street, Rochester, MN  55902; Season’s Hospice 1811 Greenview Place SW; Brains Together For a Cure, PO Box 8353, Rochester, MN  55903.