George E. Kazika

George E. Kazika, age 78, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, passed away suddenly at his home on August 23, 2026.

A Celebration of George's Life will be held from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake). George will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

He was born on March 3, 1948, in Illinois, where he was raised as a proud Chicago Bears fan—a loyalty he carried with him throughout his life.

George was an accomplished athlete from an early age. He became a college All-American swimmer at Winona and carried his love of swimming throughout his life. He was also a well-respected swimming coach for many years, sharing his knowledge, encouragement, and passion for the sport with generations of swimmers. He later served in the United States Army, including ground combat in Vietnam.

After his military service, George found the work that would become one of the greatest passions of his life: teaching. His career as a high school wood shop teacher in Prior Lake, is where he became known as a favorite teacher to countless students. Teaching was never simply a job to George. He genuinely loved helping students learn, watching them figure things out, and giving them the confidence and skills to create something with their own hands. The impact he had on his students continued long after they left his classroom.

If you were lucky enough to be part of one of George’s many pranks during his teaching years—or even better, one of his unsuspecting victims—we hope you’ll share that story with us. We have a feeling there are quite a few we’ve never heard.

George married, Barbara, on March 5, 1983. Together they built their life in Prior Lake and raised their two children, Branden and Kimberly. George was a devoted and supportive father who took great pride in his children and the lives they built.

Those who knew George will remember his unmistakable sarcasm, his stubborn streak, his character, and—perhaps most of all—his sense of humor. He was always ready to share another joke he had heard, whether you had heard it before or not. He had a way of making people laugh and leaving an impression on everyone he met.

He will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is offering donation to be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.