Obduskey - Pueblo Chieftain - March 21, 2007 - Steve Obduskey, 88, of Pueblo, passed away March 18 at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center after a brief combination of illnesses. A "Celebration of Life" will be held Thursday, March 22, 2 p.m., at T. G. McCarthy Funeral Home, 329 Goodnight Ave., Pueblo, followed by a nearby reception from 3 to 6 p.m. Interment will take place Tuesday, March 27, 2 p.m., at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheraton Blvd., in Denver, followed by a reception at the nearby home of his daughter. Public viewing will be available at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 21, from 4-7 p.m. The son of Polish Immigrants Anna Lubelska and Sczepan Obrzydowski, Obduskey was born December 10, 1918 in Trenton, New Jersey during the height of the Global Influenza Pandemic. Non-traditional in every way, Obduskey has pronounced dead shortly after his birth, then revived when oldest brother Stanley, dropped him. As was somewhat common at the time, each of his siblings had different, misspelled last names. Obduskey is preceded in death by sisters Bernice Dempsey and Jane Kopp; and brothers Stanley Obrzydowski, John Obdusky, Frank Obedowski, and Edmund Obduski. Obduskey ran away from home at the age of 11 at the start of what became The Great Depression. He traveled much of the country on foot or rail and had a small role at a moonshine still operated by mobster Dutch Schultz in the New York City area during Prohibition. He eventually joined the Army and met his future wife, Mildred Frances Keith, in Pueblo while he was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo. They married in 1939 and remained so until her passing in 1997 when she was buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. A member of the 147th Infantry, Obduskey was an expert marksman / infantryman, and fought in Iwo Jima and Okinawa during WWII. After the war, Mildred and Steve settled in Pueblo as they opted for the beautiful mountains of Colorado while other family members settled on each coast. He is survived by his daughter, Ruth Ann Drabek, 66, (Thomas E.) of Denver, and son, Dennis Keith Obduskey, 51, of Bailey. It was important to Obduskey that his children receive a better education than he had, and both were the first to graduate from college in the Pueblo branch of the family tree. From 1955 until his retirement in 1974, Obduskey managed the stock room at the downtown J.C. Penney Co. store and briefly at the Pueblo Mall. Obduskey was an avid hunter and fisherman, and frequently discovered streams that were "off the beaten path," around Colorado. One such place was Lake City, known for its wildlife, streams, views, and limited accessibility. In 1974, he joined other family members in purchasing a year-round cabin there which is still enjoyed by his daughter and her husband, Tom, and other family members. Even during his later years he continued to enjoy time in Lake City where he frequently said to those he encountered, "I'm not old yet, but I hope to get old some day." He is also survived by granddaughter Deborah Kaye Kerr, (Matthew) of Aurora, and their two children, Jeremy and Justin. Other surviving family members are grandson Russell Ray Drabek, (Renee) of Golden, and their infant daughter Sydney. Additionally, he has numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives who continue to remember this "one of a kind" man. Obduskey was especially interested in politics, and watched the CSPAN government news channels tirelessly; so much so that he had an email address beginning with SteveCSPAN and learned to use the Internet. As an impoverished youth, he had attended the Inauguration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Washington DC and then returned there under different circumstances with his son in 1993 to attend the first Inauguration of William Jefferson Clinton. They attended an Inaugural Ball and met many Congressmen and women, had drinks with Cabinet members, and were fortunate enough to get to meet the President, Vice-President, and their wives at the White House. A strong-minded Democrat, Obduskey spent much of his life "educating" everyone he met to share his expertise from his attention to the news. He believed that the more people pay attention to their government, the better it can become. He will be buried with the ashes of his beagle, Candy, who was his "best friend." In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colorado Beagle Rescue, 4755 W. 102nd Place, Westminster, CO 80031 (www.coloradobeaglerescue.org) or the Lake City Area Medical Center, 700 Henson St., Lake City, CO 81235.