Samuel G. Vana
Samuel George Vana was born June 23, 1920 in East Chicago, Indiana, to Czechoslovakian immigrants George Vana and Christine Sukupchak Vana. Sam passed peacefully into the loving embrace of his Savior Jesus on February 16, 2014. He was 93 years old.
Sam graduated from Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana in 1938 where he lettered in wrestling. Following high school he went to work at Inland Steel, where his father worked He quickly decided the steel mill was not for him and enrolled at Indiana University taking general courses.
In 1941, as the prospect of war in Europe loomed, Sam received his draft notice along with a student deferment until 1943. Following two years of college, he joined the Army and began officers' training. He was assigned to the heavy artillery unit, rising to the rank of 2nd lieutenant. While at basic training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, he met a beautiful red-headed Army nurse named Virginia Bailey at an officer's club dance. They dated until she was shipped overseas.
During a training exercise, Sam sustained a serious injury to his back and endured several surgeries, the last one being at Madigan Army Hospital in Washington State. He later learned the unit he had trained with had been deployed and were all killed in battle. In 1947, following six months of hospitalization, Sam was honorably discharged at Fort Lewis, and he enrolled in the University of Washington School of Business.
Soon after starting school, he learned Virginia had left the service and was now an airline stewardess in the Seattle area. They rekindled their romance and were married August 28, 1948.
After graduation, Sam began working at the Boeing Company as a procurement specialist and contract administrator. He specialized in galley design for the 747 and was instrumental in negotiating major contracts, some of which are still in effect today. His job afforded him the opportunity to travel to Europe and Asia where he acquired a fondness for international cuisine, much to Virginia's dismay as he tried to get her to replicate exotic dishes. He retired from Boeing in 1983 after 32 years of service.
Sam was very involved in the Lutheran Church, singing in the choir and serving as congregation president and building committee chair at Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle before moving to the Bellevue area. In his final years, he enjoyed listening to sacred hymns, the Lutheran Hour radio program, and sharing his faith with family and friends.
Sam was an avid Husky and Seahawk fan and season ticket holder for many years. He enjoyed golf and fishing trips with his sons as well as many worldwide trips and cruises with Virginia. Family will remember his barbeque salmon dinners, traditional Christmas Eve dinners, football pools, amazing sense of humor and great generosity.
Sam was preceded in death by his father, mother, older brother John, and his beloved wife of 65 years, Virginia, who died just four months earlier - he couldn't stand to be apart from her.
Surviving Sam are his three children: Michael (Michele) Vana, Jorgann (Lind) Simonsen and Dana (Lori) Vana. Eight grandchildren; Christine, Andrew (Stephanie), Scott (Amber) Simonsen, Shannon (DJ) Pogson, Brittany, Brandon Vana, Gillian, Sam Vana, and 4 great grandchildren; Lydia and Bria Simonsen, Morgan Pogson, and baby Trent Simonsen due in June.
Sam was a loving and generous husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many and deeply loved by all. He will be greatly missed.
The family wishes to thank his caregivers, Sid, Jose and Shirley who provided loving care for the past two years allowing him to fulfill his wishes of staying in his own home.