Nick Pokrajac

POKRAJAC-Nick Pokrajac, 91 years old, was born on November 5, 1915, in East Moline, Illinois, to Dane and Kata Pokrajac. He was the second eldest of their 9 children. Nick graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1939 with a B.S. degr ee in Civil Engineering. In College, he participated in ROTC and in the spring of 1941 he was inducted to active duty in the US Army. Prior to his being sent overseas he married Gretta Evans in 1941. His military service included 17 months in Iceland later serving under General George Patton in France, receiving the bronze Star for leadership and bravery for the 60 hr fight for the bridgehead at Dornot-Corny France and he recently received Croix de Guerre for heroism from the French government. Nick, a Capi tan in the U.S. Army will soon to be honored at a celebration in France on September 9, 2007. In 1942, while Nick was serving in Europe, his son Nicholas was born in Pasadena. Following his discharge from the Army, he settled in the San Gabriel Valley and his son John was born in 1946. Nick was a prominent school builder, building many public schools throughout Southern California. Upon his retirement he became active with many construction projects at Camp Trask, a Boy Scout Camp in Monrovia which named th eir dining hall "Pokrajac Hall" in his honor. Nick was an active member of the Arcadia Rotary Club for 50 years. Nick married Adelyn on April 28, 1990. They have shared 17 years together in their home in Monrovia, California. Nick will be remembered by his family for his strength and determination. He actively went after what he wanted in life. He was not known to give up a battle on anything very easily. The family wishes to thank Nick-3/8s loyal and dedicated caregivers Asminda & Rueben Andrade and Arden Florendo. Nick is survived by his wife Adelyn Pokrajac of Monrovia; Sons Nicholas and John Pokrajac of Paso Robles; granddaughter Dr.Teri Pokrajac of Irvine; grandson Jeff Pokrajac of Foothill Ranch; grandson Michael Pokrajac of Paso Robles; granddaughter Alia Pokrajac of Paso Robles; great granddaughters Gabriella and Micayli Wells of Irvine; great grandson Aaron Pokrajac of Paso Robles; and sisters Mary Levai of Hawaii and Helen Raab of New York. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Nick's latest c ause the building of a memorial museum in Dornot-Corny France mail checks to: THANKS GI'S, PO Box 539 Templeton, CA 93465. A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at 3:00 pm August 24 in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita Park 285 W.Huntington Drive, Gate 5 in Arcadia CA. Interment will be held at Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside CA on August 24 at 10:00 am.Care entrusted to Douglass & Zook Mortuary, Monrovia (626) 358-3244