Passings

Gerald E. Svoboda

Gerald Eugene Svoboda “Boda,” 87, passed away on Jan. 2, in Cheyenne. Svoboda was born on Dec. 29, 1935, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Ladd and Eileen Svoboda.

He graduated from Douglas High School and attended the University of Wyoming before joining the U.S. Navy in 1956 where he trained as a pilot in Pensacola, Florida, then transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958, and was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California, where he flew F9’s. While in the Navy, Svoboda married his wife, Paula, with whom he had two daughters.

After four years of military service, he moved his family to Cheyenne where he began his career with the state of Wyoming at the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. Svoboda was hired into the Bridge program in July 1960 and worked in bridge design for 30 years.

He was a long-time member of the Cheyenne Municipal Golf Course and the Elks Lodge. He also enjoyed many years of participating in pool, billiards, bowling and bridge leagues (of the card variety), and loved his weekly poker and golf games. He loved snow-birding in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Roadrunner Resort for many years.

He was “all that” and so much more to everyone he knew – he was great!

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.