Louis Pushkarsky, an 89 year old retired longtime N.C.M.C. professor and Trenton, MO resident, passed away at 1:55 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Life Care Center in Carrolton, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday at the Resthaven Mortuary of Trenton, MO. General visitation will begin after 9:00 AM Tuesday at the mortuary. Burial will follow with military rites in the Resthaven Memorial Gardens at Trenton. Memorial contributions have been suggested to be left to a scholarship fund at the North Central Missouri College in lieu of flowers.

He was born to Erasm (Earnest) and Yadviga (Hattie) Petroczynski Pushkarsky in Slovaktown, AR. On August 17, 1922. His parents were immigrants from Eastern Poland. Push attended East Tyler Township Public School as there was no high school available. He worked in his father’s farm repair shop, learning a trade that would serve him well in the Army Air Corps.

He entered the United States Army on November 16, 1942 and spent a total of 2 years and 2 months of Foreign Service during his 3 years and 2 months in the service before his Honorable Discharge as a Sgt. on January 29, 1946 at Camp Chaffee, AR. He served with the 48th Air Depot Group in the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations, mainly in the Barrack Pore Airdrome in India, some 40 miles north of Calcutta, reassembling fighter aircraft.

Following the war he returned to his father’s shop. Later he became involved in an aircraft accident which ended his chosen career. He then attended Arkansas State Teachers College, by attending full time and with credits transferred from the Air Corps. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Education in two and a half years. He then transferred to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he attained a Master of Arts in Mathematics in 1953. Rounding out his education, he received nine National Science Foundation Scholarships at seven Universities. From 1952 until 1955 he worked for the Bradford Public School in Bradford, AR. In 1955 after moving to Trenton he began his carrier with Trenton High School as a science Teacher and Trenton Junior College as a mathematics professor.  Upon his retirement in 1989 he received the honor of Professor Emeritus. Perhaps his most honored achievement was receiving an Honorary High School Certificate in 2003, fifty years after receiving his Masters!! (Don’t tell me that high school isn’t tough)

On January 19, 1963 he was united in marriage with Clarice Pollard Ingraham who survives of the home. Other survivors are stepsons, Larry and David Ingraham both of Trenton, MO; step-grandsons, Caleb and Jesse Ingraham; step-granddaughter, Heidi Ingraham Day; step-great-grandsons, Caden Ingraham and Link Day, all of Trenton, MO.  Sisters, Frances of Illinois and Pauline of Wisconsin and a brother, Vincent of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Stanley, Michael and Laddie and sisters Genevieve, Mary, Yourka (Julie) and Mary II.

Push had served on the Trenton City Council, was a member of the Major Dale Stepp Post #31 American Legion, Joseph L. Norton  #919 Veterans of Foreign War, where he served as the Chaplin and for over 37 years was the District 1 Adjuctant and a member and past exalted ruler of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #801 Elks.


Funeral arrangements are pending at the Resthaven Mortuary. Push has requested that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be given to the N.C.M.C. Scholarship Fund.