LUBBOCK, Texas — Lucas Lee Penka, 82, of Lubbock, Texas died at his home Feb. 13, 2013.
Lee Penka was born June 28, 1930 in Pawnee County, Kansas to Lucas and Agnes Penka.
After graduating from Zook Rural High, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 1951. Lee rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and served as a navigator in the Korean Conflict.  He was honorably discharged in March 1959 and began his next career as a farmer. Aviation remained his lifelong interest, and he earned his private pilot’s license and completed a course in aircraft mechanics. As Lee grew older, he constructed models of each type of aircraft he had flown in during his Air Force service.
Lee married Georgia Mae Hays in Slaton in July 1956. She preceded him in death in 1988. In November 1993, he married Lenora Bounds in Plainview, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, four children, Michael Penka and wife, Jana, Plainview; Dennis Penka, Plainview; Amy Dobberstein, Amarillo, Texas; and Pamela Cox and husband, Alton, Littlefield, Texas. He is also survived by four step-children, Larry Wayne Bounds, Lubbock; Steve Bounds and wife, Barbara, Lubbock; Stanley Bounds and wife, Carolyn, Lubbock; and Darrell Bounds and wife, Brenda, Wichita Falls, Texas. He is also survived by his siblings, Wilbur Dean Penka and wife, Cecile, Redding, Calif.; Rozanne Penka, Thornton, Colo.; and James Penka and wife, Karen, Aurora, Colo. He was the proud grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of eight, as well as his step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Lisa Stinson, his daughter-in-law, Donna Penka, and his sister, Willa Jean Schulte.
Services were held Feb. 18 at Parkview Baptist Church in Plainview with Terry Kirkpatrick and Steve Martin officiating.  Burial followed at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview under the care of Lemons Funeral Home.

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Feb. 21, 2013**