Roy Ernest Creek

Roy Creek
(Col. Ret. US Army)

Roy Creek, one of the 13,000 paratroopers who jumped in Normandy in the early morning hours of D-Day in 1944, died Monday afternoon, October 10 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, surrounded by family.

Creek was a company commander in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment when the unit jumped in the massive D-Day invasion. Today a bridge at Chef-du-Pont in Normandy, where he led a successful assault on the German troops, bears his name. The actions of Creek and his men have been recounted in many books, most notably by Stephen Ambrose. Creek was awarded many medals during his military career, including the Bronze Star for his actions in Normandy and a Purple Heart for the wound he sustained in the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, Creek remained in the army. In a career that lasted until 1967, he served tours of duty in Germany, Vietnam, at the Pentagon, and at bases in Kansas, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia.

After his military retirement, he moved to Lake Quivira, Kansas, and worked for two years for the defense contractor Booz Allen and then for 15 years as a hospital administrator at KU Medical Center before his final retirement.

Creek was born on February 12, 1918, on a small farm near Rogers, New Mexico. He graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in agriculture.

While serving at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, he met and married Florine Meenan of nearby Bisbee, on August 21, 1942.

Creek and his wife lived at Lake Quivira for 36 years where he was able to pursue his passions for golf and fishing. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Royals and KU Jayhawks. He and his wife moved to Lawrence in 2003.

Roy Creek is survived by his wife of 74 years, Florine Creek of Lawrence; by his sons, Dennis (Linda) of Berkeley, California; Pat (Carol) of Cleveland, Ohio; and Condy (Connie) of Lake Quivira, Kansas; by his daughter, Cindy Maude of Lawrence; and by eleven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He will be remembered by them as devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, great friend and engaging story teller.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brandon Woods Employee Recognition Committee, 1501 Inverness Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church at 9:00 am on Monday October 17, 2016. Inurnment will be in Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery.