St. Mary's High School - David City, Nebraska

Mailing Address
2271 Orchard View Lane
Escondido, CA 92027

Phone Number:
760-796-7969

Email Address:
dchmelka@cox.net 

Wed Page:
http://www.geocities.com/donchmelka/Matej.html


Marital Status:
1962 

Name of Spouse:
Vikki Pavel

Kids Names and Ages:
Steve Chmelka 41
Sandy Woodie 40
Dave Chmelka 36

Grandkids Names and Ages:
Brittni Chmelka 9
Kayli Chmelka 7
Taylor Chmelka 4
Dylan Chmelka 2
Caden Woodie 3
Ryan Woodie (born Feb. 2005)
 

Hobbies:
Golf, tennis, skiing, reading, travel, home improvement projects

Education:
High School, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering 
Master of Business Administration 


College(s) attended:
University of Nebraska (BSME 1963)
U. of Florida; U. of Illinois (Technical Graduate Courses)
Pepperdine University (MBA 1981)

Occupation, Company:
Reliability Engineer/Quality Control Foreman: General Motors
Failure Analysis Engineer: Martin Marietta
Applications Engineer to Director Marketing, Product Support & Program Management: Sundstrand
President: L&S Machine Co.
Author of "Matej's Journey to America" & "Matej's Legacy"


Favorite St. Mary's Memories:
Math & science classes that created my interest in engineering


What I have been doing since High School:
I married Vikki Pavel of Seward in 1962 and graduated from the University of Nebraska
the following year. We then moved about the country while I worked in the automotive and
aerospace industries. I retired in 1997 and began researching & writing two books.
I am keeping busy enjoying retirement, traveling, helping our three children with
home-improvement projects, playing golf and tennis, and reading, normally a book a week. 
 I haven't begun writing another book as of yet but I would appreciate if you could
remind our classmates at the reunion that my first two books are available at a discount
from my aunt Frances Kastl in David City or directly from me.
The Aquinas High School and the David City Hruska libraries also have copies.
The books have much information on the history of the Czech people and on Nebraska
along with my life story and that of my Czech ancestors.
 
Sorry to be missing the reunion and pass along my greetings to all our classmates who do attend.
We will be traveling to Nebraska in November to attend my brother Jim's youngest son's wedding
and we just cannot make two trips from California that close together.  

How did you find out about this website:
I saw Anita's article mentioning it in the Aquinas Alumni News


Comment:
St. Mary's provided me a great start in my education and religious formation