1925
George
2011
George Korbelik
July 10, 1925 — May 27, 2011
George J. Korbelik of Mission Hills died at home on May 27, 2011, of congestive heart failure and pneumonia at the age of 85 years. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, to Joseph and Antonie Korbelik July 10, 1925. He attended Charles University in Prague and received a doctor's degree in Law. He escaped from Communist Czechoslovakia in 1948 and came to the United States in 1949, continuing his studies at the University of Texas in marketing and finance.
He had a 23-year career at Butler Manufacturing Company attaining the position of Group Vice President and Director. In 1978, he left Butler to form his own company, Premier Pneumatics in Salina, Kansas. George surrounded himself with wonderful people, employing over 100, and together they made a great success of Premier. George remained President and Chairman until his retirement in 2003.
He was active in numerous civic organizations including presidency and directorship of the Rehabilitation Institute and Rehabilitation Institute Foundation and trusteeship of UMKC. He was Elder and Trustee of Village Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his spouse of 59 years, Mary Helen, and three children . . . Robert (Debra) of Edwards, CO, Jill of Eugene, OR, and David of Kansas City. Also he is survived by two grandchildren, Jason, 26, of Denver, CO, and Brian, 24, of Scottsdale, AZ.
The memorial service will be held on Thursday at 1:00pm at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the charity George was most passionate about, The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, www.rehabkc.org, 3011 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com.
He had a 23-year career at Butler Manufacturing Company attaining the position of Group Vice President and Director. In 1978, he left Butler to form his own company, Premier Pneumatics in Salina, Kansas. George surrounded himself with wonderful people, employing over 100, and together they made a great success of Premier. George remained President and Chairman until his retirement in 2003.
He was active in numerous civic organizations including presidency and directorship of the Rehabilitation Institute and Rehabilitation Institute Foundation and trusteeship of UMKC. He was Elder and Trustee of Village Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his spouse of 59 years, Mary Helen, and three children . . . Robert (Debra) of Edwards, CO, Jill of Eugene, OR, and David of Kansas City. Also he is survived by two grandchildren, Jason, 26, of Denver, CO, and Brian, 24, of Scottsdale, AZ.
The memorial service will be held on Thursday at 1:00pm at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the charity George was most passionate about, The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, www.rehabkc.org, 3011 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George Korbelik, please visit our flower store.