Dostal, Gerald Louis 1927 - 2015
DOSTAL, CHIPERA, VOYEK, HODGERSON, JOHNSON, KIRCHHOFF, SLEGER, BELSCHNER, BUCKTON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/10/2015 at 16:12:46
Gerald L. Dostal, 88, of Decorah, IA, formerly of Protivin, IA, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2015, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Father Nick March officiating. Burial will be held at the church cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at the church. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home, 123 North Main St. in Protivin, IA, is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald Louis Dostal was born in Protivin, Iowa, on January 29, 1927, the second son of William C. and Pauline (Chipera) Dostal. He was a member of Holy Trinity Parish and attended the Parochial school graduating from Rudolphinum High School in 1944. Upon graduation he served in the United States Merchant Marines on the Steamer H.T. Ewig part of the Columbia Transportation Company on the Great Lakes until December 1944. He enlisted in the United States Navy on January 24, 1945, during WWII serving active time in the South China Sea on the Destroyer USS Sierra based in the port of Shanghai, China. He received his honorable discharge in Minneapolis, MN, August 6, 1946, with the rank of Signalman 3-C United States Navy. On completion of his military service he attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa graduating with a BA in Economics in January 1950. He began working at the Bohemian Savings Bank in Protivin shortly after graduation. He remained there until his retirement in December 31, 1988.
On September 24, 1951, Gerald married JoAnn Voyek at Holy Trinity Church, Protivin. To this union three daughters were born, Christel Renae Dostal, Cheryl Diane Hodgerson, and Dorene Anne (Daniel) Johnson. There are two grandchildren, Heather (Kyle) Kirchhoff and Holly (Matt Sleger) Hodgerson.
Gerald was active in the community, he was a member of the American Legion, served on the Holy Trinity Parish Council, Howard County Hospital Board, Decorah State Bank Board, Community First Bank Board among others.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping with family, spending weekends on the Mississippi with family, and in later years wood carving, repairing and rebuilding clocks and gardening. With his wife, he visited most of the states and National Parks.
Gerald is survived by his wife of 63 years, JoAnn, his three daughters and two granddaughters, one brother Ronald (Agnes) Dostal, sisters-in-law, Susan Belschner, Barbara Buckton, and Jane Voyek.
He was preceded in death by his parents William C. and Pauline Dostal, a brother William G. Dostal, and a brother-in-law Larry Voyek.
Source: Hindt - Hudek Funeral Home database
Holy Trinity Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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