Richard C Polak

Richard C. Polak '"" our dad Our dad was a talented, witty, energetic man who was involved in all our activities as we grew up. You could find him coaching Cub Scout softball, making torches for the Camp Fire girls' ceremonies, driving the dates to and from the Homecoming dance, or cutting down and dragging the Christmas tree home. We always had a good Christian home and sang songs around the May altar each year. He loved our mother and became her primary caregiver during her long illness with arthritic pain. During WWII dad served in the Southwest Pacific, 13th General Hospital as Chief X-ray technician. His unit set up hospitals in New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. He took care of patients associated with the Bataan Death March in Cabanatuan, Philippines He retired from the Army Reserves with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. After WWII he returned to Colorado to raise his family while he worked in the X-ray Dept at the VA Hospital. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Later in his life, he spent many years conducting religious programs with his friend, Mary Huwa. Now as adults with families of our own, we know how much he taught us '"" solid traits that we can carry through life. THANK YOU, DAD '"" WE LOVE YOU! Kris, John. Cherie & Rick Dad and the Rosary When Dad was preparing to go overseas during World War II, he wanted to fulfill Our Lady of Fatima's request to ""pray the rosary daily to obtain peace in the world"". So he memorized the scriptural rosary and promised that if he could remain safe throughout the war, he would dedicate his life to saying and promoting her rosary. Dad had two close calls with death during the war. One was when a bullet creased his helmet, and the other was when he and several of his unit were captured by natives in New Guinea. But he returned safe and sound at the end of the war. He helped form a ""block rosary"" in our neighborhood, where we traveled to different neighbors' houses each Tuesday, and knelt and prayed the rosary (Dad always led it). The block rosary went on for years (not just during the Bay of Pigs). This united our neighbors in a special spiritual bond. We prayed the rosary every evening during the illness of one of the members of our family. Even though I was only six years old at the time (and I looked forward to dipping my fingers in the wet candle wax as soon as it was finished), I believe that this act of love touched each of us in a special way. When my father heard about the messages of Our Lady at the sites of Garabandal, Spain and Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, he began going from parish to parish to share her messages and to promote the recitation of the daily rosary. In high school, I remember my father telling me that if he should die, there was only one request of us kids, and that was that we each say the daily rosary. I tried several times in college, but my efforts would often end in procrastination. It wasn't until I was married with children of my own, that I was finally able to discipline myself enough to do it. What an incredible difference it made in my life' to consecrate on the life, death and resurrection of Christ every day. It was then that I understood why he asked me to do it. He knew that it would bring joy and peace into my life, and would lead me ever closer to the Mass and the sacraments of the Church. What an awesome gift to give to a daughter! Love you, Dad! Cherie Richard C. ""Dick"" Polak, 88, of Denver. Preceded in death by wife Jeannette. Father of Kris (Larry) Monger, John (Nancy)Polak, Cherie (Stu) Garrison, Rick (Alyce Blevins) Polak. Grandfather of 9. Greatgrandfather of 4. Recitation of the Rosary will be held Monday, 9:45am, Followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00am at St Joseph Catholic Church, 969 Ulysses Street, Golden, Colorado. Entombment Mount Olivet Cemetery. Memorials to The Mother Cabrini Shrine 20189 Cabrini Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401. Please share memories of Dick and condolences with his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.