Clifford C. Bizek, Timken
https://www.charterfunerals.com/obituary/clifford-bizek
September 3, 1932 - June 1, 2023
Clifford C. Bizek, 90, of Timken passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023. He was born on September 3, 1932, on the family farm at rural Timken, Rush County, Kansas to Charles J. Bizek and Edith L. Seelye Bizek.
“Cliff” grew up and absorbed American rural values that were part of the fabric of that day including faith in Christ, family, service to others, kindness, good manners, humility, respect, and thankfulness. He remained joyful, outgoing, and interested in everyone all his days. He helped work the family farm and developed a life-long love of the land, farming, machinery of all kinds and animals (especially dogs) from his farmer and machinist dad. Although his military service, careers, love of flight and travel took him around the world, he made time to continue active farming with his dad and then on his own.
As a young boy he was intensely fascinated with flight and air travel. His dad built “Cliff” a metal model airplane with functioning details including a spinning propeller. It remained fixed to the fence surrounding the family farm home for many decades with its propeller spinning away in testament to Cliff’s early love of flight. He graduated from La Crosse High School in 1949 and earned his first college degree in agriculture from Kansas State University in 1954. He joined the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet program in 1955 at Lackland AFB, Texas.
His primary flight training was performed at Spence Field (Polecat 47-T-34 & T-28). Basic flight training was flown at Williams AFB, Arizona and Laughlin AFB, Texas. He completed all-weather school and F-94-C training at Moody AFB, Georgia. Next assignments included Newcastle Airport, Delaware with the 97th FIS flying F-94Cs followed by assignment to Hamilton AFB, California (1958) with the 84th FIS flying F-89Js. Finally, he ended his service with an assignment to Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, flying F-89Js with the 59th FIS. Cliff served during the Cold War and played an important role in protecting the United States and our Allies from the Soviet threat. He and other pilots were required to scramble and get planes into U.S./Canadian airspace in minutes when the sighting of an enemy plane or UFO was reported. The national defense planes he flew were armed with the latest tech of the day including nuclear weapons.
In 1960 Cliff resigned from the USAF to attend Wichita State University where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1966. While working on his engineering degree he joined the Kansas National Guard flying F-86Ls and F-100Cs and Fs. Major C. Bizek attended Squadron Officers School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the Fighter Weapons Instructor school at Nellis AFB, Nevada (F-100).
After a brief career as a petroleum engineer with Sunray DX Oil Company, Cliff’s love of flying won when he joined American Airlines (AA). Based in Chicago with American Airlines, he transferred to the Illinois Air National Guard to continue his service. He flew with AA until retirement flying the BAC 111, 727, 707, DC9, DC10, 757 and 767 out of Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami. In 1992 he retired out of Miami after flying internationally to Europe and South America for several years. He taught himself Spanish when he started flying to South America to better appreciate the cultures. During retirement he split his time between residences in Dallas, Texas, St. Petersburg, Florida, La Crosse and rural Timken, Kansas.
Clifford was predeceased by his parents and four sisters, Thelma Jean Bizek, Sherla Lee Bizek Furgason, Patricia J. Bizek Raikes and Janet Elaine Bizek Barker. He was also predeceased by his companion of many years, Joy New.
He is survived by his sister Charlotte I. Bizek Biays, who provided loving care for him as his memory failed over the last several years. While he did not have children of his own, Uncle Clifford was always present in the lives of his family, rejoicing at happy times and providing care and support during sad times. He was much loved and will be greatly missed by his nine nieces and nephews, his twenty-six great nieces and nephews and his growing numbers of great-great nieces and nephews.
Clifford maintained his membership at the La Crosse United Methodist Church for most of his life although he attended worship in many different churches as he moved and traveled.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 14, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. at the Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, La Crosse, Kansas. Services for Clifford C. Bizek are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the Janousek Funeral Home followed by graveside Masonic and military services with interment at the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas. Attendees are invited to greet the Bizek extended family at the Bison Community Center and enjoy light lunch refreshments thereafter.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Bohemian National Cemetery in care of JoAnn Tomecek, 3015 Avenue S, Timken, KS 67575.
Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P.O. Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785-222-2517.
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