RUZICKA, Francis James, Father 1909-1994

RUZICKA, ADAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/26/2012 at 18:58:26

Father Francis J. Ruzicka, 85, of the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home, Charles City, died Tuesday, October 11, 1994, at the nursing home, following a lengthy illness.

A funeral mass was celebrated Friday morning, October 14, at the Immaculate Conception Church at Clutier.

Father Francis James Ruzicka was born on June 7, 1909, in rural FLoyd, Iowa, the son of Frank and Catherine (Adams) Ruzicka. He attended elementary school at St. Mary's Academy in Roseville, and graduated from Charles City High School in 1926. He graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended Loras College in Dubuque for two years to prepare for the seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

On June 6, 1936, at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque, he was ordained as a Catholic priest. He was first assigned as the assistant pastor at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin from 1936 to 1945. For one year, he was the pastor at the church of the Assumption in Little Turkey. In 1946 he became the pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clutier and St. Wencelaus Catholic Church in rural Clutier.

He remained the pastor of the churches for 33 years, until his retirement in 1979. He then moved to make his home with his sister in Charles City, on Hildreth Street, until moving to the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home two years ago. He was a member of the K.D. or Catholic Workmen.

Living family members include one brother, Anthony Ruzicka of Marble Rock; two sisters, Emma Ruzicka of Charles City and Alvina Ruzicka of Greene; and one nephew, Paul Ruzicka of Dubuque. There are four great-nephews and one great-niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Emil Ruzicka.

[ NORA SPRINGS ADVERTISER, OCT. 19, 1994 ]