Kazimir J. Petrauskas
1923-2014
Kazimir Joseph “Casey” Petrauskas of Edmond, Oklahoma passed away June 21, 2014. He was born, March 23, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. He served in World War II with the 5th Army in Italy until the end of the European campaign. Casey served as a mortar man in heavy weapons with the 473rd combat regiment and was honorably discharged in 1946. After discharge from the service he decided to go to photography school in Dallas, Texas where he graduated with honors. He also attended the Institute of Design in Chicago where he studied photography under the internationally famous Maholy Nagy. He studied color photography at the New York School of Photography.
After moving to Oklahoma City, he attended Oklahoma City University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. He majored in vocal music and journalism. While in music school he was chosen to be an extra with the Metropolitan Opera production of Carmen with Rise Stevens. He was a great fan of hers and was honored to be in the production and be photographed with her. He appeared as an extra with the Boston Opera Company production of La Traviata which performed in Oklahoma City. Casey served as photographer for Oklahoma City University for four years.
After graduation, he worked for the Oklahoma Publishing Company on both the Daily Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times. While he was working for the Oklahoman, the Director of Tourism for the state of Oklahoma contacted him to inquire if he would start a photographic department for the Tourism Division. He performed photographic work for the Oklahoma Governor’s Office, legislature and senate. He promoted tourism for Oklahoma while traveling throughout the United States. He narrated several weekly television programs while serving with the Department of Tourism. After 13 years as photographer for the Department of Tourism, the Oklahoma Department of Highways contacted him and asked him to start a photography department for them. The Department of Highways then started a Reproduction Department and appointed Casey as manager. This Department was responsible for photography, microfilming, offset printing, blueprinting, and the sale of maps and biding projects for highway construction projects. He worked as Department Manager until his retirement in 1982.
While in Oklahoma City he was very active in theatre. He performed with Lyric and the Jewel Box Theatres in many productions and was active on the board of the Jewel Box Theatre. He starred in a motion picture titled the “Lake Texoma Caper”, appeared in several Hollywood motion pictures and many television commercials. While in Oklahoma City he served as a volunteer in the evenings at the St. Anthony Hospital, was taught to be an inhalation therapist and served on their code blue resuscitation team. After retirement he moved to Lake Eufaula with his wife Marilyn Charlyne LeGrange Petrauskas. He was active in St. Paul Catholic Church where he started a choir and served as choir director for many years. For many years, he was active as a volunteer at the Lake Eufaula Hospital, served on their hospital board and as president of the volunteers.
He was very active in china painting and belonged to many china painting clubs in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He had a studio in his home where he taught china painting. He is very well known worldwide for his china painting. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, and his son Martin Glenn Petrauskas and Martin’s wife Helen. He is also survived by brothers and sisters of whom he is the oldest of seven children. He has a brother Raymond Petrauskas, sisters; Lydia Vlcek, Charlotte Poss, Patricia Charaptha, and a brother Stanley Kimbark. Please contact Martin Petrauskas at 405-426-2960 for details of Casey’s memorial service.
