TIMKEN — Melva L. Pivonka, 87, died May 1, 2014 at the Rush County Memorial Hospital in La Crosse.
Born June 26, 1926, in La Crosse, she was the daughter of Henry W. and Ida (Moore) Gillig.
A life-long resident of Rush County, she was a 1944 graduate of La Crosse High School and attended Fort Hays Kansas State College. On Dec. 24, 1946, she married Cyrill M. “Bud” Pivonka at the United Methodist Church in La Crosse. She was employed by the Rush County News in La Crosse. Melva and Bud, together with Edward and Thelma Fiala, built and operated the La Crosse Bowl. In 1950, when Bud was recalled to service in the Korean Conflict, Melva returned to work at the Rush County News until November 1951. In 1952, the couple moved to Timken and operated Pivonka Implement with Bud’s brother, Jim, and later in La Crosse until 1979, where Melva worked part-time as a bookkeeper.
Mrs. Pivonka was a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, of La Crosse. She was a Cub Scout den mother and leader; co-organizer of the La Crosse WBA where she served as secretary; a coach and instructor of Junior Bowlers; Gay Gingham EHU; Monday evening Pitch Club; SWKAAA Board in Dodge City; the Rush County Council on Aging; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Hays.
Survivors include, her husband, Cyrill M. “Bud” Pivonka, Timken; two sons, Steve Pivonka, and his wife, Sharnon, Gardner; and David Pivonka, Great Bend; a daughter, Nancy Pivonka, Santa Fe, N.M.; five grandchildren, Andy Pivonka, Melissa Pivonka, Kimberly Bartly, Jeremy Pivonka, and Aaron Pivonka; and five great-grandchildren, Jake Bartly, Easton Bartly, Kohen Pivonka, Genevieve Pivonka, and Brooklynn Pivonka.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Alex Gillig.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, at the United Methodist Church in La Crosse, with the Reverend Diana Hill officiating. Inurnment will be in La Crosse City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Janousek Funeral Home *
719 Pine, P.O. Box 550
La Crosse, KS, 67548
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, May 4, 2014