Walter Vodrazka Sr., P.E. Ph.D.

Walter Charles Vodrazka, Sr. P.E. Ph.D., passed away on December 21, 2022 at the age of 89.  He was born on August 27, 1933 in Clinton, New Jersey to Charles and Genevieve Vodrazka. Walter earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. In Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

While at Mississippi State, he met and married Mary Jane (Loper) Vodrazka. Walter worked on several large engineering projects across the US but found his calling in education. He devoted most of his professional life to teaching Civil Engineering, first at the University of Texas at Austin and then at the University of Wisconsin at Platteville. He was named the Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and ended his career as the Associate Dean of the Engineering College at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), where he was distinguished as Professor Emeritus.

At UNLV he oversaw many research and grant studies and served as the Faculty Advisor for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter.  He was an active member of ASCE and the National Society of Professional Engineers, for which he served on local, state and national boards and committees.  Walter was an active member of the Rev. Theodore Van Skee Assembly of the Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree and served as Grand Knight and District Deputy.

Walter is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary, brothers Stanley and Charles Vodrazka, sister Jeannie Kisch, daughters Susan Anderson (Jeff) and Sarah Morgan (Bryan), sons Walter Jr and Benjamin (Trish), and grandchildren Travis and Elizabeth Morgan.

The funeral mass will be held at 9:30 am on February 2nd at Holy Family Catholic Church (4490 S. Mountain Vista St, Las Vegas, NV  89121).

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the UNLV ASCE Student Chapter, Rebuilding Warriors, or the Van Skee Assembly of the Knights of Columbus in Walter’s memory.