OBITUARY...
Jeff was born February, 11, 1950, in Chamberlain, SD, to Josephine (Casey) and R. James Houska. He graduated from Rapid City Central High School, SD, in 1968. He received an Associates of Science degree in Nursing from Mesa College, AZ, in 1976, and a Family Nurse Practitioner Certification from Wichita State University, KS, in 1978. Jeff worked in Albuquerque as a nurse practitioner since 1983 and was President, CEO, and founding medical provider of CliniMed Corporation, established in 1991.

He was an active member and past-president of the New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, and was key in getting legislation passed which enabled New Mexico’s nurse practitioners to practice virtually independently. He also served on the Presbyterian Health Plan Technology Assessment Committee for 3 years.

In addition to his career-oriented community involvement, Jeff was a great friend to and a financial supporter of the High Desert Pipes and Drums of Albuquerque, and the Black Hills Playhouse of Custer, SD.

He leaves behind his children James, 16, Los Lunas, and Catherine, 21, of Albuquerque; mother, Josephine Houska of Rapid City, SD; sisters Gail Thompson of Rapid City, SD, and Lynn Symington of Hillsboro, OR; brothers Gregory Houska of Missoula, MT, Barry Houska of Rapid City, SD, and Scot Houska of Grand Junction, CO; and a large extended family.

Jeff loved his adventuresome life, his family, his music, and taking on challenges. His most formidable and time-consuming but ultimately his favorite challenge was raising his two children. He was a published author of a medical thriller The Pandora Factor, a patented inventor, a “pseudo-homosapiel taxidermist,” an avocational artist and musician, and above all had a vivid entrepreneurial fire burning inside him which was his driving force. He cherished companionship of friends and family members in the enjoyment of his