Irene Cervenka

Monday, June 24, 2019 5:30 pm

Irene Cervenka, 96, of Fort Atkinson, died June 19, 2019, at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Mass of Christian burial is at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 201 Oak Street in Fort Atkinson, with Rev. Aaron Junge presiding. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 4 until 7 p.m. Monday, June 24, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson and also after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Lector is Jill Clark. Eucharistic ministers are Ron Cervenka, Randy Kuennen, Patty Hageman and Ann Herold. Organist is Jeanette Dietzenbach. Soloists are Kathy Cervenka and Sharon Kleve. St. John’s Choir will sing “Here I am Lord,” “I Am the Bread of Life,” “On Eagles Wings” and “ Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Offertory gift bearers are Amanda Marsala and Melissa Peters. Casket bearers are Michael Marsala, Jeff Cervenka, Randy Svoboda, Danny Svoboda, Melissa Peters and Jason Peters. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel, Fort Atkinson.

Irene Elizabeth (Svoboda) Cervenka was born June 6, 1923, to James and Mary (Moudry) Svoboda in Cresco. Irene attended and graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin.

Irene married Leonard Cervenka June 7, 1943, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. After marriage, Irene joined Leonard on the Cervenka family farm where she helped him for many years. While working on the farm, Irene also enjoyed gardening and baking.

Other interests included being part of a women’s bowling team for several years, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes football and men’s basketball games. Her favorite baseball team to watch was the Baltimore Orioles and her favorite NFL football team was the Green Bay Packers.

When grandchildren and great grandchildren would visit, she would sit down and color with them for as long as they wanted.

Irene and Leonard enjoyed taking bus trips with tour groups and also with family. They also enjoyed going to wedding dances at the Spillville Ballroom as they loved to dance.

Irene’s survivors include her daughters, Patricia Cervenka, Coralville and Lorene Cervenka, Cedar Rapids; two sons, Ron (Kathy) Cervenka, Waukesha, Wis. and Kevin Cervenka, Fort Atkinson; four randchildren: Melissa (Jason) Peters; Jamie (Angela) Kingery; Amanda (Michael) Marsala and Jeff (Liz) Cervenka; five great-grandchildren: Madison, Annabelle, McKenna, Quinn and Mikko; three sisters: Gertrude Boddicker, Blairstown; Mary Ann (Bob) Bader, Protivin; Agnes (Ronald) Dostal, Protivin.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Cervenka; parents, James and Mary (Moudry) Svoboda; three brothers: Raymond (Mary) Svoboda, James Svoboda and Bernard Svoboda; sisters, Alice Svoboda and Helen (Arnold) Havel; brother-in-law, David Boddicker; father and mother-in-law, Philip and Elizabeth Cervenka.