Obituary of Tommy Dean Petrik

Ethan – Tommy Dean Petrik, 82, went to his heavenly home Thursday, August 22, 2024 at his home in Ethan under hospice care.  Memorial service will be Friday, August 30 at 10:30 am at Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes.  Visitation will be Thursday, August 29 from 5 to 7 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service, at the United Methodist Church in Ethan.

Tom was born September 2, 1941 to Frank “Doc” and Ella “Cook” (Brotherson) Petrik. He attended Goose Lake #9 grade school. After graduating from Lake Andes High School in 1959, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Midway. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Lake Andes. He moved to Aberdeen where he worked for Farmers Union. In 1975, he returned to Lake Andes and worked at Mobil, Bergin Service, Co-op, and Lake Andes RediMix. In 1977, he married Karen Koerner and began working for the City of Lake Andes. In 1978, he began working for the Randall Community Water District where he was employed for 26 years, retiring in April of 2005. April 1984, David, Naomi, Ben and Faith became a part of the family. In 2015, Amelia and Zachary were added to the family. All the grandchildren referred to Tom by the Bohemian term for grandfather, “Poepoe.” Tom was a 25-year member of the Lake Andes volunteer fire department and served as fire chief, secretary, and truck captain. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Andes and the First Methodist Church in Ethan. Tom played slow pitch softball with the “Stingers” and enjoyed the fireman’s water fighting during the summer activities. After Karen retired in 2006, they moved to Ethan. 

He leaves to mourn his wife of 47 years, Karen; 2 sons David Petrik of Shinnston, WV and Ben (Nicole) Petrik of Epiphany SD; a daughter, Naomi; 6 grandchildren: Trevor (Shawndra ), Gabriel, Amelia, Zachary, Madison, and Josie; a sister, Carol Pesicka of Armour; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Those preceding him in death were his parents; daughter, Faith; brother-in-law, Leonard Pesicka; a sister, Shirley (Leo) Payer; and in-laws, Elmer and Dorcas Koerner.