Peter Jay Kaluza

"Peter Jay" Kaluza , 69 year old resident of Little Falls, MN died Thursday, March 25, 2010 at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, March 30th at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Rev. Mark Innocenti officiating. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN. Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 P.M. on Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN and from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at the Church on Tuesday. Rosary will be said at 4:30 P.M. followed by Knights of Columbus Office of the Dead at 6:00 P.M. Parish Prayer services will be held at 7:30 P.M. Monday at the church. Peter John Kaluza was born July 3, 1940 in Long Prairie, MN to the late Peter and Ida (Backus) Kaluza. He was raised on a farm west of Browerville, MN. Peter graduated from Browerville High School. He then attended Brown Institute and graduated in Radio Broadcasting. He also attended St. John's University in Collegeville, MN for one and a half years. Peter then attended St. Cloud Technical College and studied Practical Nurses Training. Peter served his country enlisting in the United States Army in 1963 serving in Korea. He was discharged in 1965. He was united in marriage to Barbara Hatfield on June 15, 1974 in South St. Paul, MN. Peter worked in Radio for 42 years, one and a half years in Long Prairie, MN, nine years in St. Cloud/Sauk Rapids, MN, seven years in Cloquet, MN and 25 plus years in Little Falls, MN. During his career in Little Falls, MN, Peter Jay worked as an announcer, sports director and as a sales representative. He broadcasted over 2,500 high school and college sporting events. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, volunteering, photography, reading sports material books, lecturing at church and singing in the choir. His greatest enjoyment was his time spent with his family and seeing his children do well. Peter was also very proud of his mother. She graduated from college at the age of 64. Peter was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church serving on the parish council for a number of years, the Knights of Columbus serving as a Grand Knight and church director and media relations, the American Legion Post #46 in Little Falls, MN and the Little Falls Lindbergh Lions for 30 years where he received the Melvin Jones Award, the Helen Keller Award and the Catching the Dream Award from the Lions foundation for his work and dedication in helping fight diabetes. He volunteered at St. Gabriel's Hospital and Habitat for Humanity and served on the advisory council for the Franciscan Campus. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Barb of Little Falls, MN; sons, Eric Kaluza and wife, Corrin, of St. Paul, MN, Marc Kaluza and girlfriend, Christina Knott of Red Lake Falls, MN and Michael Kaluza of Little Falls, MN; grandchildren, Emilee Girard and Gabrielle Kaluza; siblings, Thomas Kaluza and wife, Norma, of Circle Pines, MN, Richard Kaluza of Browerville, MN, Raymond Kaluza and wife, Linda, of Perham, MN, Steve Kaluza and wife, Renee, of Sauk Rapids, MN, John Kaluza of Eagan, MN, Margaret Bushlack and husband, Dave, of Burnsville, MN, Mary Riviere of Brooklyn Center, MN and Anne Stowell and husband, Rodney, of Hudson, WI and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Ida Kaluza and brother, William Kaluza. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the family of Peter Jay Kaluza.