Louis Pushkarsky
Born: Thu., Aug. 17, 1922
Died: Sat., Mar. 31, 2012
Funeral Service
1:00 PM Wed., Apr. 04, 2012
Location: Resthaven Mortuary
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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.
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Click the button to generate a printable document containing all condolences submitted
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Condolence Booklet
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Brenda Thorne
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Posted Mon April 02, 2012
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Push was a great man and will be greatly missed. I so enjoyed getting to know such a great man. I admire the loved and dedication he had to Clarice and his family. He will be thought of often.
All My Love,
Brenda Thorne
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Rich and Kathy Cable
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Posted Tue April 03, 2012
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Dear Aunt Clarice and family,
We are all so sorry to hear of Uncle Louis''s passing. We loved him very much. He was so special to our family and we cherish the time we spent with him when we were all at Grandma & Grandpa Cable''s. We will miss him greatly.
Love and Prayers,
Rich and Kathy
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Carol Reger
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Posted Tue April 03, 2012
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Push was one of the best. I had him in high school for chemistry; then at TJC for algebra. Push was always a pleasure to visit with in later years. He will be missed.
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TERRY G. WHITNELL
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Posted Tue April 03, 2012
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PUSH WAS ONE OF A KIND! HE HAS MY ADMIRATION AS ONE OF THE TOP EDUCATORS THAT TRULY CARED ABOUT HIS STUDENTS'' LEARNING AND WELL BEING.
I WAS A SENIOR IN HIS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS CLASSES IN THE 1957-1958 SCHOOL YEAR AND HELPED IN BUILDING AND SEALING THE CHEMISTRY BENCHES IN HIS CLASS ROOM. HE MADE DIFFICULT CLASSES EASIER TO COMPREHEND AND EVEN HAD STUDENTS LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM.
I WILL MISS HIM AND KNOW MY LIFE WAS MADE A LITTLE BETTER FOR KNOWING HIM.
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Ken Reger
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Posted Tue April 03, 2012
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Push was many things to me: an instructor, a mentor, a friend and colleague, and fellow veteran. He will continue to live as long as my family exists.
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Mark Reger
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Posted Tue April 03, 2012
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Some of my fondest memories from college were spent in Push''s class! He was a wonderful teacher and person! He influenced the lives of all of his students!
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Douglas Finley
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Posted Wed April 04, 2012
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I was in "Push's" first classes at THS. He was one of the best teacher'professors I every had. It was a privilege to attend Push's classes. You was taught many things and you also learned how to dodge things. He was a great person and I am very sorry he is gone. I will miss him.
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Nancy Hanks
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Posted Wed April 04, 2012
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May you rest in peace and your family be comforted in God's undying love. Thanks for being a unique and extraordinary professor. One of my favorites.
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Doug Dible
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Posted Wed April 04, 2012
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Dear Clarice,
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.
Push is the Missouri Community Association to me. I was always glad to
see you two together at the dinners and will always be thankful that I was
able to say I knew the two of you.
With warmest personal regards,
Doug Dible
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Caryee Sayer Smith
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Posted Wed April 04, 2012
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Mr. Pushkarsky was my math professor at "Trenton Junior College" in 1981. My degree is in English and journalism, so needless to say, math was not easy for me, and he KNEW that. He was so sweet to me. I struggled a lot with the curriculum and he was so patient and kind. I know I deserved a D with the scores I had, but because I was there every day, and always tried, my grade was a C. I will never forget him. He was a caring teacher, and an inspiration to all of us. I will soon finish my 24th year in teaching, and I have implemented the same kindness he gave to me with certain students throughout the years. God bless you, Mr. Pushkarsky.
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Kristin Berry Harris
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Posted Sat April 07, 2012
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"Push" was one of my favorite teachers from TJC. I enjoyed being in his class, even though Algebra was not my favorite subject. I always appreciated the time he took with his students!
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Bill Clark
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Posted Mon April 09, 2012
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So many high school and college students from long ago have shared their fond memories of Push among ourselves over the last several days. The constant themes that came our of those exchanges was the love of a man, a teacher, and a friend. He was among the very best teachers we ever experienced. He certainly made learning fun and we were all challenged. We will all miss a dear friend and someone we have long admired and loved.
Bill Clark Trenton High School Class of 1967 and a former THS Chemistry and Physics student.
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Sam Blackburn
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Posted Sun December 07, 2014
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I am a little late turning in this assignment but I don’t dare try to offer a plausible excuse because Professor Pushkarsky was always a few steps ahead of me.
Even as a member of an exceptional group of faculty, he was a standout as an instructor. In his algebra class, he would field each question as if it was the definitive question of the semester. I remember him working his chalk on his way to the end of the slate blackboard, pivoting on his troubled foot, surveying the room -- with a quick look -- to insure students were following along, and then cleaning the board to start again.
What I thought was remarkable was when I asked him questions about a problem while outside the classroom. Instead of working the subject problem and sending me on my way, he would ask me to work through it as far as I could. While I worked, he would ask questions that also served as hints. Then, when I had gone as far as I could go, he would take my ‘scribblings’ and finish the problem, explaining each of his steps in great detail. Finally, he would ask me to work a similar problem to make sure I had it. This process not only helped me get where I needed to be but also allowed him to assess the effectiveness of his teaching methods.
He had a little starch in his demeanor, was proper in much the same way as Atticus Finch, demonstrated the tenacity of a bulldog, and was quick to show compassion and empathy when – most assuredly – appropriate.
I once worked near a large machine shop; they were having a difficult time hiring for the shop because of the level of math competency required to do the work. Each time I passed the machine shop, I would think, “They need Pushkarsky. Send in “Push” and it will be alright.”
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