Lewis Vincent Tezak

SALT LAKE CITY — Lewis Vincent Tezak, 90, died July 7.

Tezak was born April 26, 1918, to Christine Logar Tezak and Anton Tezak in Sunnyside, Utah. During his high school years in Price, he excelled in academics and activities such as student government, student senate, and the Letterman’s Club at Carbon High School. He played football and was the most valuable player in the American Legion State Baseball Tournament in 1933. After graduating from high school, he played semi-professional baseball. In 1942, he batted against renowned Kansas City Monarchs pitcher, Satchel Paige. In 1942, he also enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the European campaign in World War II. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant. Upon discharge in 1945, he had achieved numerous awards including the Good Conduct Medal, Carbine Expert Marksman, and the World War II Victory Medal. He married Emma Dekieva Sept. 13, 1947. She died in October 1976.

He worked for 35 years as a furniture salesman for Sears Roebuck and Company, where he won the best salesman in the Utah-Idaho region. He married Elfe Oliver Hutchinson in 1986. She died in September 2005. Tezak’s truest virtues were his steadfast belief in God and especially his devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His love and commitment to his friends and family will be remembered as the hallmark of his character.

Tezak is survived by his daughters, Valerie Tezak and Barbara (John) Herndon; grandson, Matthew Martinez; son-in-law, John Herndon; sisters, Christine Grant, Helen Tezak, and Anita Brown; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.