Calvin Kalishek

Calvin “Kal” James Kalishek, 72, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, passed away on July 29,
2025. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Robert Felix Kalishek and Adeline
Marie (Kass) Oehlke, grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and happily spent most of his
last 30 years in Oklahoma.

Kal was a rebel and a fighter — persistent, stubborn, and fiercely independent. He
earned both reprimands and commendations, collected awards and logged violations.
He didn’t hesitate to file grievances, claims, or appeals when something felt wrong. He
could drive his supervisors crazy or earn their deep respect — sometimes both. He
never backed down from a challenge and never stopped trying to learn, improve, or
push the boundaries set before him.

Kal proudly served his country for 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Civil Affairs
Noncommissioned Officer with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations
Command (USACAPOC). His many deployments took him to Haiti, Jamaica, Bosnia, El 
Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star
for his service during Operation Enduring Freedom and retired as a highly decorated
soldier. Sergeant First Class Calvin Kalishek is being honored January-March 2026 with
a display of his uniform and memorabilia at the Military History Museum in Broken
Arrow, Oklahoma.

He also built a long civilian career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 2023 as an
Electronic Technician. As with his military service, Kal navigated the postal system with
determination, intellect, and just enough rule-bending to keep things interesting. He was
always taking new courses and applying for roles that kept him a step ahead.

A lifelong learner, Kal earned a Bachelor of Arts from Lakeland College, where he
studied business, computer science, and economics. He also pursued software
engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology and studied microcomputer
programming. He completed an impressive amount of military and civilian education
and was known for his intellectual curiosity.

Kal had a lifelong passion for cars. From small convertibles to race cars, he loved
everything about them and even pursued amateur racing. His first car, a lime green Fiat,
kicked off a decades-long obsession.

He also had an interest in aviation and took flying lessons with the goal of earning his
private pilot’s license. He was scheduled to take his exam the day before a long
deployment, which delayed his certification indefinitely. Though he never completed the
process, his enthusiasm for aviation — especially aviation history — never waned.

Kal was active in several veteran and community groups, including the American
Legion, the U.S. Veteran Bike & Street Rods Association, and the Patriot Guard Riders of Oklahoma.

He was a reader, a history buff, a tinkerer, and a man who never stopped seeking
knowledge — or pushing back when it mattered.

Kal is survived by his siblings: Robert, Karen, Charles, Curtis, and Kim; and by his
nieces and nephews: Nick, Clark, Chris, Jason, Tarryck, Chase, and Calista. He was
preceded in death by his parents and his nephew, Kurt.

Kal will be remembered for his decorated service, his sharp mind, his stubborn will, and
his unstoppable spirit. A memorial service will be held at a later date.