1948 – Philip (Tony) Anthony Podenski – 2016
Philip Anthony “Tony” Podenski was born September 8, 1948 at Slayton, Minnesota, son of Lyeon and Gay (Norton) Podenski. He was raised there and graduated from Slayton High School in 1966. He completed the License Communication Technician Program in Jackson, Minnesota. He then began working at Stromberg Carlson of Rochester, New York. In 1968 he entered the US Army and served in Vietnam until his honorable discharge in 1970. He returned to work for Stromberg Carlson working throughout the country, before moving to the Red Lake Falls area in 1979 and began working for Garden Valley Telephone where he continued until his retirement in 2007. Tony was united in marriage to Gail Kalbakdalen in 1982 at the Presbyterian Church in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. To this union two daughters were born, Leah and Tara. They lived in Red Lake Falls where Tony enjoyed ice fishing, Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins. He also enjoyed the time spent doing yard work and his garage time. He loved jumble puzzles, but most of all he loved spending time with his grandkids and family. He was a proud member of the NRA and a member of the Red Lake Falls American Legion. Philip passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at his home at the age of 67.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years Gail, Red Lake Falls, MN; daughters: Leah (Justin) Halvorson, Stanley, ND and Tara (Mathew) Lake, East Grand Forks, MN; grandchildren: Wyatt Podenski, Dominic Halvorson and Sawyer Lake; God-children Aaron Hollis and Brianna Kalbakdalen; mother and step-father Ray and Gay Metz, Slayton, MN; sister Merry (David) Hollis, Slayton, MN and brother Tom (Kari) Podenski, Rochester, MN; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Lyeon Podenski and sister Nancy Griffith.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Reverend Gary Graff Officiating. Private family burial will be held at a later date.
Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
