Fred T. Palko

Fred Thomas Palko Born March 12, 1924 at 1400 Block of Cedar Street, Pueblo Colorado to Stephen and Alice Palko. ""Freddy"", as he was known in his younger days, attended Saint Francis grade school for eight years. In 1941 he graduated from Central High School in Pueblo. Fred worked for the C&W Railroad at the steel mill in Pueblo. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for thirty-three months, 14 of which were spent in the South Pacific. These 33 months would play a hand in the way Fred lived his life and gave reason to why he so highly valued life itself. Fred was sent to San Diego for basic training, and then to Chicago for airplane mechanics training. He shipped out from Miramar, California for duty in the South Pacific during World War II. Sergeant Fred Palko flew with the Marine's 1st Air Wing in DC3's and RD4 transports as navigator. They flew supplies in and the wounded out, flying mostly at night. His main job was to refuel the planes. Among the islands he flew to were New Hebrides, Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Yap, Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, and Palau. Enemy snipers were still on some of the jungle islands, and his outfit had to clean them out, man to man. Fred bears a bayonet scar on his arm from an encounter where he had to fight the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. On Guadalcanal, there was no time to build an airstrip, so a temporary airstrip was constructed from metal strips. Fred recalls ""Guadalcanal was the worst"", because of things more horrible than any of us could imagine. The Marines never knew where they were going. They went where they were needed as they flew back and forth between the islands. His unit received some R&R in New Zealand. At Palau, near Yap, enemy soldiers were shooting at the plane. ""It was so scary"" Fred remembers. ""I was hurrying to refuel and accidentally put a little oil in the gas tank, then I caught myself. I told the pilot, but he said not to worry."" Fred also spent some time flying in the Corsairs, which were the fastest fighters. He says ""they flew like a bird."" Once in a while, he was a gunner on these, even though he had not been trained as a gunner. ""Manpower was so short, they grabbed whoever they could"", Fred explains. It was the same with navigators. They usually used officers, but there was also a shortage in that specialty, so Fred also served occasionally as navigator. When his plane crashed on the island of Yap, Fred's leg was broken at the ankle. He was sent to the hospital at Honolulu by ship, which took about 15 days. While he was recuperating, his unit received orders sending them back to the states. Fred was able to join them for the return home. He had spent thirty-three months in the Marines. Fred was awarded two bronze stars: one for Bismarck Battle and one for Bismarck Archipelago. He was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal. At a street dance during the Boulder PowWow in 1947 Fred met Jean Tyler, and they were married in Boulder on March 17, 1948 at the Sacred Heart Rectory; since it was during Lent, they were not allowed to be married in the church itself. Fred attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in August , 1950, finishing in 3 years and 3 months. Fred worked as an apprentice, which was required at the time, for one year with a man named Andy Prince, at Prince Pharmacy in Pueblo. Andy had been instrumental in getting Fred interested in Pharmacy. Fred finished his apprenticeship under Fred Johnson at Johnson's Drug, at 2117 East Evans in Pueblo. Fred later bought that drug store, renaming it Fred's Minnequa Heights Pharmacy. He owned that store until 1962. Fred later worked for the Veteran's Administration hospital in San Francisco for two years. He and his family returned to Denver in 1964, where he worked as a retail pharmacist until 1970 when he opened a Rexall drug store in Bailey, Colorado. Fred closed that store after a little more than two years, and went to work for National Jewish Hospital's pharmacy until his retirement in 1989. Fred also had a family life: he and Jean had 4 children, Kay, Donna, Linda and Tom. He was also blessed with 11 grandchildren, Crystal, Jed, Brandy, Ben, Sarah, Becky, Cory, Adam, Stephen, Jessica and Justin and again Fred was blessed with 9 Great grandchildren Alexander, Egor, Denny, Nadia, Duncan, Lisbeth, Haley, Toby, and James Turbo. Fred loved life. He enjoyed fishing and camping, and during his last few days he enjoyed hearing stories about some of those trips. He even asked Linda as we all sat at his bedside, ""tell me a Story"". Fred loved stories, especially stories about the family and some of the times we had together. Fred was very devoted to his faith in God and to the Church. Fred was brought up in a very strict Catholic family, attended Catholic school, was an Altar boy, and later in life very involved in the church. Fred was present for the ground breaking of Saint Mark Catholic Church where he was an usher for many years. He was active in the 4th degree Knights of Columbus and when he and Jean moved to Thornton became very active in the parish of Holy Cross as a Eucharistic Minister. Fred also loved to travel (with a little persuasion from Jean). He and Jean had lots of fun on trips with the Senior Center in Thornton. These are just some of the things we remember about a very good man, the Marines always say ""We're looking for a few good men"", well they found one in Fred and we as his family were lucky enough to call him ""daddy"", ""Grandpa"", Fred and Friend. Fred, Daddy, Grandpa was special to us all and we all have special memories of his life. Today we celebrate his life and not only do we celebrate his life but we are reminded of how he battled for our freedom and the way of life that we are privileged to live today. So today Fred we salute you, we thank you, we love you and while we will miss you, we know you are now at peace, so we send you into Gods loving arms. Fred T. Palko, decorated WWII combat Marine, passed away on October 15, 2013. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean, and his sister, Helen Skube. Fred is survived by his children, Kay (George) Baker, Donna (Larry) Huckaby, Linda (Chris) Ziegler, Tom (Tricia) Palko; 11 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren. Rosary is Sunday, October 20 at 3:30pm, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 9998 Grant Street, Thornton. Funeral Mass is Monday, October 21 at 10:00am, Holy Cross Catholic Church, 9371 Wigham Street, Thornton. Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Monday, October 21 at 1:30. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Fred Palko's name to: Holy Cross Catholic Church 9371 Wigham St, Thornton , CO 80229 (303) 289-2258 OR Thornton Senior Center 9471 Dorothy Boulevard, Thornton, CO 80229 303-255-7850 Attention: Lisa Ranalli, Senior Citizen Program Manager 720-977-5851 lisa.ranalli@cityofthornton.net Please share your memories of Fred and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.