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