Lori Pohanka-Kalama

Lori Ann Pohanka-Kalama was born in Grafton, North Dakota on January 12, 1971, to the late Larry Pohanka of Park River, ND and Patricia Huber of Linton, ND. At a very young age she moved to Linton where she resided until earning her masters degree as a speech therapist.
Lori was united in marriage with Kelly Kalama in Texas. They lived in various locations following his military career, finally locating in Belton, Texas. The couple was blessed with two sons, Rafe, 14, and Gabriel, 13. The boys were the greatest joy of her life.
Recently Lori was living in Belton, Texas where she combined her careers of being a great Mom and independently managing a speech pathology practice for Kidz Therapy LLC along with pressuring her many other interests.
Lori's life was one of caring and giving, she was a PADI certified dive instructor and trained many, including her two sons. Her sudden death exemplifies her caring and courage. Lori died in a tragic accident while on a search mission for a soldier presumed lost in flood waters. She was serving as a member of the Morgan's Point Resort Underwater Recovery Team, of which she was an active and very respected member. She has successfully carried out several search and recovery missions with them. Her bravery and caring knew no bounds.
Lori is survived by her boys Rafe and Gabe Kalama of Belton, Texas; her mother, Patricia Huber and step-father Don Jahner of Linton, ND; her step-mother Ann Pohanka of Park River, ND; her sister Kate (Terry) Holzer of Linton, ND; step-sister, Xan (Todd) Swenson of Marietta, GA; 3 nieces, Morgan, Payton and Gracyn; 1 nephew, Lukas; and numerous aunts and uncles. She is also survived by a very special friend, Cecil Prime and her "family" in the dive community.
She will be remembered with a memorial visitation to be held from 10 am-8 pm on Friday, April 21, 2017 and 9a-12p on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple. A community celebration will be held at 7 pm on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Vista Community Church, 7051 Stone Hollow Dr., Temple, Texas. A second memorial service will be at First Baptist Church in Linton, North Dakota at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
Lori is being honored with full Police and Fire Honors at the funeral home in Texas during local services and with a full detail procession to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, continuing from the Bismarck Municipal Airport to Linton on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in honor of Lori be made to KERC Foundation, PO BOX 10707, Killeen, Texas 76547
Long live the memory of this brave and giving person. She will be missed by many.

Visitation

HarperTalasek Funeral Home
500 W. Barton Ave.
Temple, TX  76501
Friday, April 21, 2017
10am-8pm

HarperTalasek Funeral Home
500 W. Barton Ave.
Temple, TX  76501
Saturday, April 22, 2017
9am-12pm

Service

Memorial Service

Vista Community Church
7051 Stone Hollow Dr.
Temple, TX  76501
Saturday, April 22, 2017
7pm

Memorial Service

First Baptist Church
..
Linton, ND  00000
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
2pm

Memorial Contributions

KERC Foundation
PO BOX 10707
Killeen, TX  76547