Zdenko Vokel Sr.

Zdenko “Denny” Vokel Sr. died Nov. 10 at his home in Sierraville, Calif. He was 71.

Born in Vrchtepla, Slovakia on Feb. 15, 1938, in a family of six brothers and five sisters, he went to trade school at 14 where he studied to become a machinist.

At 17, he entered the Czech Army where he was an executive chauffeur for the military. In 1969, he left Czechoslovakia to follow his dream of living in America.

He worked as a machinist in Chicago and then moved to California. Living in the Bay Area, he worked for several companies including LLNL, Lockheed Corporation and Perkin Elmer.

He did consulting work, specializing in parts for scientific space exploration, computer and security technology.

He is survived by his wife, Monica; children, Arka, Iveta, Tony, Sharka and Bugg; grandchildren: Lucinka, Gina, Katie, Simonka and Samantha; sisters, Helena, Viera and Lida, and brothers, Milan, Rudolf and Pavol.

A celebration of his life was held Nov. 15 at his home in Sierraville. Condolences may be sent to: The Vokel Family, P. O. Box 291, Sierraville, CA, 96126.