Obituary of Lorne Nedvidek

Lorne Frederick Nedvidek was born February 9, 1927 to Frederick & Lena (Bales) Nedvidek in Toledo, OH and passed from this life on July 8, 2011 at the age of 84. Graduating from DeVilbiss High School in December 1944, Lorne enlisted in the Navy. Following his honorable discharge he attended the University of Toledo. He began his life-long career in the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Industry as a Product Engineer for Toledo Steel products. It was there that Lorne met his future wife, JoAnn Szymanski. Lorne and JoAnn were married in 1952. A move to Cleveland, OH several years later came when Toledo Steel Products became part of TRW. 1966 saw another move, this time to Kentucky where he became Vice-President and General Manager of Sorensen Manufacturing. In 1990 Lorne began his own venture, StripMasters of Nashville, a commercial and industrial coatings removal service. In 2000 Lorne retired and he and JoAnn returned to their home in Bowling Green, KY where they resided until the fall of 2009 when they moved to Tulsa in order to be with family. Lorne was an avid antique auto enthusiast having owned numerous vintage cars during his life; most notably a 1933 Pierce-Arrow and a 1936 Ford Cabriolet which was a National Show winner. After retiring he restored a 1966 Ford Mustang. He was also passionate about vintage airplanes and spent countless hours as a youth building and flying balsa wood models. In his mid-forties he took up Cross-Country Motorcycle Racing with his sons. Following his retirement he worked with a local group restoring the old Train Depot in Bowling Green along with assisting in the restoration of old Rail Cars they procured. Preceded in death by his parents and his sister; Mary Louise Nedvidek, Lorne is survived by his wife, JoAnn Helen (Szymanski) Nedvidek; his sons Michael D. Nedvidek, William F. Nedvidek, Thomas L. Nedvidek and Robert A. Nedvidek; and his grandchildren, Joseph P., Daniel, David, Joseph F., Samuel, Ethan, Ryan, Matthew, Katherine, Emma, Bonnie and Leslie. Lorne will lie in state 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home and a Memorial Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1727 S. 75th E. Avenue, Tulsa, OK. The family suggests donations be made in Lorne's memory to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 6465 S Yale Ave # 312, Tulsa, OK 74136.