From Robbie

The first time I met Ivan I was probably around 10 years old. I was told that he worked with my father Frank at DEH. It was most likely Ivan that encouraged my dad to get out of the house and go fishing with him. Since they both were in early stages of divorce, what better way to heir grievances than beer and fishing? More importantly, I was brought along so that I could meet his two sons, both of whom would eventually become the closest thing I have to brothers. My Dad rarely left the house, but whenever he did it was usually because of Ivan. I can remember going over to their house in Diablo at the ass crack of dawn, being introduced to this wild eyed, long haired hippy man who seemed not at all like my father. Then I was lead into the house to meet Adrian and Oliver, who were far more interested in the Thundercats on TV than me. Grunts were made by way of greeting, then we all loaded up the car and left. It may have been the first time I had ever been fishing, although my dad briefly owned a boat I have no recollection of he or I ever having used it, let alone gone fishing. I'm sure I left an awkward impression with the Klasovsky boys, but I was certainly fascinated with my dad's new friend. Little did I know at the time, but the Klasovsky's were about to move into the house directly across the street from me on Clayton. Since my parents had also split, hanging out at the Klasovsky house was my solace. From that moment on, they became a permanent fixture in my life. Ivan was like a second father, one who always had a cool story to tell or new experience to force me into. Adrian, Oliver and I became inseparable for almost a decade thereafter. Adrian was like an older brother (who would give me frequent beatings) and Ollie was my little brother (who would get me in trouble). I'm ashamed to admit that I spent more of my childhood with Ivan than with my own father, but I'm fortunate that I had someone like Ivan in my life. Growing up with Adrian & Oliver allowed me to experience things I never would have otherwise. I have so many fond memories of wild adventures, and Ivan was always there looking out for us. I gave Ivan a hard time a lot, poked fun at his drawl, but I did so only out of love and familiarity. I sarcastically kept transcribing The Book of Ivan, a collection of proverbs and ultimate truths that Ivan would say to us. Looking back I realize how much of his philosophies influenced who I am today (for better or worse). He pushed me just like he would his own boys, and encouraged me to connect with my own father who didn't know how. I will always hold Ivan with the highest regard and I really regret that I never got to see him as an adult. And although I haven't seen Adrian & Oliver in nearly 2 decades, I still regard them as brothers who probably know me better than anyone else.

Blast from the Past

See,speak,hear no evil(three klasovsky boys)
Halloween photo, from biggest to smallest, mike,ivan,toni

Jimmy Simpkins words on Ivan

"Lizabeth:

Please allow me the chance to honor our beloved and honorable friend. Above all people that I have known Ivan broke the mold on being unique. He lead the way in professional knowledge about Army operations in the canal zone and often proved to be the sole authority on the right way to do things. He was my beloved confidant while assigned to U.S. Army South and never did he let me down. Ivan was the "go to"person based on his knowledge, experience and truthfulness. He was always the optimal of a professional and went far beyond the specifications within his job description. Ivan was the reason that the Panama Canal was returned to Panama in an outstanding condition and his worth will never be known. In addition he was a friend to cast a fishing line into the teaming water of Panama or to share a laugh or beer in toasting our many successes. I am extremely sorry that we were not closer in the final years of his life but I always remember the lessons he taught me and his friendship.I know that heaven is richer for his arrival and I am sure that he is the new master planner and logistician for heaven. My sincere condolences to lizabeth and the family during this time of sadness. My you find comfort in knowing that the world is a better place because of Ivan's contributions and we all are richer from knowing him. May he rest in peace and may we always remember the sunshine he spread into out lives. Best of life. Love the Simpkins Family.

My life with Ivan

I met Ivan in 1980 when I first started working for the Army in DEH. He was married at the time and after few years I always remember seeing him in his Volvo 240 and the two toeheads(Adrian and Oliver). He divorced in 1993 and I divorced in 1991. We started dating in 1995 and got married in 1998. Through the years it was a roller coaster of good times and sometimes not. The boys finished college, Oliver got married and we both fell in love with Leah. His health issues started in 2002. With all the up and downs of our relationship we enjoyed Charlie our dog that he put to sleep on December 2001. We travelled to Panama several times. We also went to Argentina, where he took me to Patagonia and we saw the Wales mating just sitting on the beach. We both like the Ocean, El Valle, Isla Grande, Portobelo, fishing until I got Sea Sick(ask Kenny in Heaven). We both enjoy dancing and going out to dinner. We left Panama in August 1999 after he retired and I came to SOUTHCOM with a promotion. I was so home sick for the first 6 months and I remembered on Sunday evenings watching movies and just relaxing. I used to tell him, "honey how come I did this to you, we should have never left Panama and he said honey do not worry is going to be OK." We lived in Germany for 4 years, 3 Months and 19 days. He used to call Germany the Frozen Wasteland, while he was there he worked as a Contractor for the CAC Implementation. Additionally, he worked for the PX as a Contractor in addition to that he took tons of beautiful pictures for Panama News. We visited 12 Countries and thanks to Marina and Manfred our good German friends we visited Germany from North to South and East to West. They took us to cities and restaurants were you did not find Americans. Marina and Manfred gave us a flavor of Germany that was not a typical American taste. I loved my husband and he always going to be in my heart. One time Lily Palm(RIP) before we left Panama in 1999 told me one day when we were having Lunch in a Mexican Restaurant in el Dorado how smart he was. It was in the process of closing the bases USARSO that everybody realized that he was the smartest man in USARSO and I felt so PROUD.

Stuart Warners email

I am so sad to learn of Ivan's death and I send my sincere condolences
> to you and your family. Ivan was such a terrific guy and he was one of
> favorite friends. He was honest; hard working; bright, beyond belief;
> super clever; humble; and a great story-teller. He was also an
> incredible boss who gave much appreciated support to all of my ideas,
> during the time I worked under him at the Directorate of Engineering and
> Housing in Panama. It is sad that Ivan has left us, but we will always
> remember him. He brought happiness to all of us who were fortunate to
> know him. I remember that Colonel Simkins used to always come to Ivan,
> instead of the senior folks, because the good Colonel respected the
> knowledge and advice that Ivan shared. Ivan was extremely talented but
> he was not of the same mold as others. He enjoyed rocking the boat but
> at the same time, he was a pillar of strength. He would cut to the
> chase and identify the problem at hand, and the solution ... even if it
> was unorthodox. He had a capacity to engender others to work together
> in a cohesive way to overcome obstacles in achieving the task at hand.
> On a personal side, I know Ivan since we were teen-agers and he was
> always popular. Ivan loved telling Bajun jokes and he had a keen sense
> of wit. Ivan was very a very sensitive and caring person and he loved
> all of the members of his family. He was deeply devoted to you and he
> was extremely proud of his boys. I am a better person because of Ivan
> and for this, I am forever indebted to him.
>
> Love, Stuart

A Day in my Life with Ivan

It was a hot and muggy morning in mid June 1965. I had a bucket of spottails and mud dobbers waiting for me in a bait bucket at Gatun Yacht Club. I went over to the Klasovsky home to see if Nick wanted to go fishing. As I ran up the back stairs to the kitchen, I found Ivan sitting at the kitchen table (with his feet on top of the table because Mom wasn't around). Ivan told me that Nick was in Balboa visiting with friends, but he would go fishing with me. We walked to the Gatun Yacht Club with our fishing gear and then we set out on the 'Jack Killer', my small row boat, to intercept the large schools of Jack Crevalle that came out of the Gatun Locks with the first south bound transit that enters Gatun Lake after sunrise. We chased the largest school of Jack for miles: west to the Ski Docks, then around Navy Island and then South to the open channel before the Jack finally settled down and disappeared from the surface. Exhausted, we put ashore at the south tip of Navy Island and started walking up the east shore of the island looking for things to do. We were nearly a half mile from the boat (and our fishing equipment) when all of a sudden, a school of very large Jack exploded in the shallows near where we were walking. Without our fishing equipment, I picked up some rocks and started throwing them at the Jack. Ivan did the same and then he just stopped and exclaimed "Look at this!". He pointed to a couple of dark smooth 'rocks' laying in the red clay mud. He picked up the larger one and said "It's a stone axe!". Then he picked up the smaller one and gave it to me. Ivan didn't have to give me one of his stone axes, but he did so out of the goodness of his heart. Being Unselfish was one of Ivan's biggest strengths. We went home without any fish that day, but finding those stone axes with Ivan is one of my fondest memories of life in the Panama Canal Zone. I now have more than 200 stone axes from Panama, but the first one that I found with Ivan has a special place in my heart. I didn't have a lot of days with Ivan because of our age difference and Ivan wasn't home much when I was old enough to do the really cool stuff, but Ivan did take me fishing and skin diving and on walks in the jungle and on trips to Santa Clara and El Valle, etc. He treated me like a brother and I love him because of that. Vaya con Dios, my brother. - Ted Bailey

My Brother Ivan

Ivan was my brother. He was always adventurous and thought way outside the box. Had some fun times as kids, but he left home when I was 12 so most of our contact was on vacations, and a few times at my parents when we were adults. He took me to Columbia and to San Blas when I was a teen and I appreciate those experiences that I never would have had without him. I am sorry he had to suffer the ravages of ill health the past 8 years...he had a wonderfully creative mind.