Trosky Jr., Harold 'Hal' Arthur

Harold “Hal” Arthur Trosky Jr., 76, of Swisher, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, after a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: St. Michael's Cemetery, Norway. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Teahen Chapel in Walford and Tuesday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the church.

Hal is survived by two daughters, Dawn (Les) Oelke of Dubuque and Tracy (Marty) Hart of Fairfax; two sons, Mike (Connie) Trosky and Gregg (Lisa) Trosky, both of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren, Michael (Andrea) Moncada of Marengo, Jennifer (Brian) Frana of Fayette, Matthew (Katie) Trosky of Tiffin, Lisa Oelke of Dubuque, Anthony (fiancee, Lara) Trosky of Kansas City, Mo., Lauren and Ellie Trosky of Cedar Rapids, Jason (Valarie) Christensen of Marion and Zack Hart of Tempe, Ariz.; 10 great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Noah, Jordan Moncada, Joshua and Jeremiah Oelke, Kael and Taylor Frana, Tysenn Trosky and Addison and Jillian Christensen; two brothers, Jim (Mary Jeanne) Trosky of McHenry, Ill., and Lynn (Felicia) Trosky of Carmel, Calif.; a sister, Mary Kay Mattiace of Turners Falls, Mass. and Chebeague Island, Maine; special friend, Connie Zuber Baugh of Amana; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents preceded him in death.

Hal was born Sept. 29, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Harold and Evelyn Lorraine Glenn Trosky. He graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1954 and later that year signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox sent him to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class A Western League to evaluate him for two weeks. They put Trosky in the starting lineup right away, playing first base, and on June 22, 1954, he hit a home run in his first at-bat. Hal played five seasons in the minors and one game in the majors. He never played again after the 1961 season, but the White Sox didn't release him until 1972. In 1955, he married Ellen Mae Gibson. They later divorced. He sold insurance for over 50 years and was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hal was a deeply spiritual man, devoted and loving father, grandfather, great-grandpa T, brother, uncle and friend.

He enjoyed being outdoors mowing, hunting, fishing, and attending air shows. He had a lifelong love of music and patiently worked through crossword puzzles. Hal always loved spending time with his family.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha for their compassionate care of dad and the entire family. You were truly God's angels at a very difficult time.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com

Published Nov. 25, 2012 in The Gazette