Eugene Vinduska

Services for longtime Marion dentist Eugene F. Vinduska, 92, who died Thursday at Halstead Health and Rehabilitation in Halstead, will be Friday at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen.

Rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m. Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Inurnment will be in Pilsen Cemetery.

Born Dec. 4, 1930, in Pilsen to Joseph and Marie (Lentz) Vinduska, he attended Pilsen Grade School, earning a lifelong nickname, “Hooligan.”

A trombonist, he began playing in polka bands at age 14. His final performance was at age 78 with his family’s band.

A 1948 graduate of Lincolnville High School, he enlisted in the Army but received a medical discharge and returned to Pilsen, where he ran a gasoline transportation business and opened Pilsen Corner Station.

In 1953, he chose to pursue dentistry and graduated from St. Benedict’s College in Atchison and on June 1, 1957, married Verna Jirak. They moved to Kansas City, where he graduated in 1961 from Kansas City Dental College.

He practiced dentistry in Marion until retiring in 1999. For the last 10 years of his practice, his wife worked alongside him as his receptionist.

She preceded him in death as did a son, Eugene Vinduska Jr., and brothers Robert and Florian Vinduska.

Survivors include sons Douglas and Gerald Vinduska of Wichita; daughters Anne Malone of Topeka, Amy Vogel of Marion, Mary McNeil of Wichita, Jo Ellen Whitehair of Abilene, and Karen Thompson of Ozawkie; 23 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

“Doc” was a private pilot, flying a Piper Cherokee, and also owned a BMW motorcycle, which he rode to work.

A member of Holy Family Parish, he was a charter member of Father Kapaun Knights of Columbus Council in Pilsen.

A memorial has been established with the Father Kapaun Legacy Fund.