Leroy Nishek

LeRoy was born in Ellendale, North Dakota on September 11, 1938, to August and Ida (Bachman) Nishek. He was the second child of nine (7 brothers and one sister). His family was of German-Polish ancestry. They all worked extremely hard on a small farm in Ellendale.

LeRoy and his brothers rode horses to their country one-room school for the first eight grades. They transferred to the city school for high school. LeRoy graduated from high school in 1957. He attended college in Concordia, Missouri one year and then joined the Air Force. He was an aircraft mechanic and in job control in the Air Force during the years 1959-1963. Most of his tours of duty were in North and South Dakota and Alaska.

After finishing his time in the Air Force, LeRoy got a job at Martin Marietta in Denver, Colorado working on the Titan Space Program on the test stands. Later he enrolled at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He graduated in 1968 with a major in Industrial Construction Management. LeRoy moved to Riverside, California with his first post college job building houses in December of 1968.

In January of 1969, LeRoy met his future wife, Penny Kirkpatrick, a teacher in Riverside, California. The married in Riverside on August 1, 1969. In the summer of 1970, he transferred with his job to Texas.

LeRoy worked for Tacker-Schilling Commercial Construction Company for ten years building many schools and warehouses in Dallas and surrounding cities. In 1980 he founded his own commercial construction company, Industrial Construction Management in DeSoto, Texas. He built schools, warehouses, post offices and fire stations mostly in Dallas County.

LeRoy and Penny both retired in May 2000 and sold their office warehouse and their home in DeSoto. They traveled for two years on the road in their motor home enjoying camping with fellow travelers, seeing the scenic views in the United States and Canada.

In 2002, LeRoy and Penny moved to Allen, Texas to be near their daughters and future grandchildren. They joined Custer Road United Methodist Church and the Empty Nester Sunday School Class in 2002. LeRoy’s primary interests during retirement were camping with his local motor home group and gardening. He loved helping his daughters, their husbands and six grandchildren with construction projects.

He returned back to his family’s farm in North Dakota every year to see his brothers and go deer hunting and fishing. His main hobby at home was always his vegetable gardens. Eventually he built a green house so he could study plant growth while having fresh vegetables all year long. His pride and joy were his precious grandkids whom he loved to tease and entertain.

LeRoy is survived by his wife Penny Nishek; daughters Beth Mills and her husband Michael and Amy Swift and her husband Kirby;  grandchildren Megan, Katie and Emily Mills and Jake, Hunter and Chase Swift; brothers Wayne Nishek of Idaho, Donald Nishek and his wife Mercedes of North Dakota, Butch Nishek and his wife Susie of North Carolina, Lelan Nishek and his wife Barbara of Hawaii, Bill Nishek of Hawaii and Jerry Nishek and his wife of Hawaii.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate LeRoy’s life Friday, September 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano, Texas. Officiated by Rev Jack Gibson.

LeRoy will be laid to rest at the Custer Road United Methodist Church Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, if desired contributions may be made in Leroy’s name to Missions at Custer Road United Methodist Church or to all community outreach ( AOC ) or to the charity of your choice.