Roger Lhotka

Roger David Lhotka arrived this side of Heaven on February 2, 1945, at the municipal hospital in Glencoe, MN, the
6th of 7 children born to George and Mary (Wosmek) Lhotka. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in
the Catholic faith.
He attended grades 1-8 at St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1963. After
graduation, he worked odd jobs around town that summer before deciding to enlist in the Army. He served
beginning in August 1963 and earned the rank of Sergeant before he was honorably discharged in August 1966.
While in the service, Roger received an M1 Rifle Marksmanship trophy, achieving the high score of 98/100
competing against 1,000 men.
On March 11, 1965, Roger was united in marriage to Genevieve Shimanski, celebrating 56 years together. Their
marriage was blessed with 6 children.
In his early years after leaving the army, Roger worked for Advanced Machine in Mound, MN and
Maresh Furniture Store and Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake. Beginning in the early 1970s, Roger perfected his
carpentry skills working 16 years with his brothers, Donnie and Larry, with Lhotka Construction. They built many
local residential homes and some commercial buildings in and around the Silver Lake area, including Maresh
Funeral Home. He then served 18 years as Custodian at Silver Lake Catholic Schools before retiring in 2006.
Roger was actively involved as a volunteer in the Silver Lake community. He served on the Silver Lake Fire
Department for 25+ years and was a member of the Silver Lake Legion, Silver Lake Sportsmen Club and Knights of
Columbus.
Roger loved the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, and he enjoyed snowmobiling, camping and the
annual walleye fishing trips to Canada. One of many special highlights in his time in the great outdoors was his
successful elk hunting trip to Colorado. He loved playing cards and had especially good luck playing 31. He enjoyed
traveling, looking at the night sky on the back deck, watching the Vikings and Twins play (even when their records
weren’t so hot), and welcoming visiting family and friends with his warm smile and twinkling, mischievous eyes. In
recent years, he got into the tradition of passing along his late brother George’s love of Fireball whiskey to all.
Roger is survived by his loving and colorful wife, Genny; daughters, Carol (Dean) Schauer, Brenda (Mike)
Mickolichek and Carmen Dimond; sons, Jeff (Kelly) Lhotka and Tony (Martha) Lhotka; grandchildren, Steve &
Chrissy Mickolichek, Alyssa Schauer & Josh Randt, Tina & Chris Bengston, Brittany & Joe Clemence, Mitch &
Miriam Schauer, Nick Schauer, Alex Schauer, Brianna Dimond & special friend Dalton, Brandon Dimond, Brooke
Dimond, Dylan Lhotka, Josie Lhotka, Bella Lhotka and Luna Lhotka; great-grandchildren, Ella, Genna & Ava
Mickolichek, Mikey & Jordan Bengston, Grace & Stuart Clemence and Asher Schauer.
Brothers, brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Francis & Pok-Hui Lhotka, Larry & Janice Lhotka, Helen Lhotka, Joyce
Lhotka, Gladys & Mike Carter, Bob & Sue Shimanski, Doris Jerabek, Ronnie & Mitzi Shimanski, John & Rosie
Shimanski; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. And last, but certainly not least, his best 4-legged
furry friend, Petey.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, John; his parents George & Mary; brothers Ray, Donnie and George;
sister Beatrice; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Simon and Dolores Shimanski; brothers-in-law, Eddie Kulinski,
Frank Hlavka, and Dale Jerabek; and sisters-in-law, Lois Shimanski and Therese Hlavka, and many other family
members.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, the School Sisters of Notre Dame
or memorial masses.
We are so grateful for your heartfelt and thoughtful words, outpouring of love and support, memorial and
monetary gifts given in dad’s memory and all acts of kindness. May God bless and keep you all.
Please accept this message as a token of our sincere gratitude as no acknowledgements will be sent.