George Kalata

George Anthony Kalata was born in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, to Nettie and Joseph Kalata on October 17, 1933 and passed into heaven on Ascension Day May 21, 2009. He graduated from Columbia Heights High School in June of 1951. George married Sandra Sherwood on April 21, 1956. They raised four children; Jody, George, David and Stacey. George Anthony Kalata was the youngest of 10 children and is survived by three sisters, Evelyn (Frank) Bolton, Gen Woodburn, Florence Peterson along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, he was Poppa to Philip Mallari and Grandpa to Ben Kalata, Erica Kalata, Nick Kalata, Victoria Mallari-Singh, Anna Kalata and Mariya Kalata. George moved to Shoreline WA in 1967 and remained there until his passing. George joined the King County Sheriffs Dept in 1969. He worked in the jail and the North patrol until his medical retirement in 1978. He continued in the work force until his retirement in 1993. George was an avid fisherman most of his life and fished many of the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota. He built many ice houses on the lakes where he and his family and friends could fish in comfort during the cold Minnesota winters. George and Sandra enjoyed traveling and camping with their children, and in retirement owned a couple of Airstream trailers. They were members of the Airstream trailer club (WBCCI) North Cascade unit (of) which George was Vice President and President in 2000 and 2001. George was always interested in raising and racing homing pigeons which he did in Minnesota and Washington. He won many trophies over the years. George will be deeply missed by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at City Calvary Church, 15211 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers his wife requests that remembrances be made to the NW Kidney Centers Foundation and Group Health Hospice program.