John Walter Pozdro

Memorial services for Dr. John Walter Pozdro, 85, Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church.Dr. Pozdro died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at his home after a long illness.He was born Aug. 14, 1923, in Chicago, the son of John I. and Rose G. Mossman Pozdro.He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He earned music degrees from Northwestern University and a doctorate in Musical Composition from the Eastman School of Music. He was a member of the Kansas University music faculty from 1950 through 1992, serving as chairman of Music Theory for 26 years, and chairing the KU Symposium of American Music from 1958 through 1969.He was a member of the Lawrence First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder.He married Shirley Winans on June 12, 1954, in Oklahoma City. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include a son, John Winans and wife Karen, Austin, Texas; a daughter, Nancy Tehllman and husband Scott, Lawrence; a sister, Bernice Lafoe and husband Dave, Barrington, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Mary Pozdro, Palatine, Ill; four grandchildren, Hannah, Scotty, Katy, and Connor; a nephew, Herbert and wife Linda, Palatine, Ill.; a great-nephew, Steve; and a great-niece, Lisa.The family suggests memorials to Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center or First Presbyterian Church, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Pozdro.