Praska, Shirley A. (Vrba) 1938 - 2015

PRASKA, VRBA, HAYEK, BECK, KNUTSON, SCHMITZ, BURKE, ZWEIBOHMER, KLEVE, SIEVERS, HUINKER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/19/2015 at 13:09:55

Shirley A Praska, age 76 of Elma, IA went to meet her Lord on Saturday, September 12, 2015 with her family by her side at Howard County Regional Health Services in Cresco, IA.

Shirley Agnes (Vrba) Praska was born October 28, 1938 to Adolph and Mayme (Hayek) Vrba at their home in rural Fort Atkinson. She attended country school near Jackson Junction in Winneshiek County. On August 15, 1956 Shirley met the love of her life at the “Sheep Shed” in Little Turkey at a dance. She married Joseph F. Praska, Jr. on October 1, 1957 at St. John Nepomucene Church in Fort Atkinson, Iowa. After completing his military service Joe and Shirley moved to Joe’s family farm west of Lourdes until they retired in 1996 and then moved to Elma. Shirley was very involved in church and community. She taught CCD, was Den Mother for the Lourdes Cub Scout troop, served on the Howard County Hospital board and Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered as a Pink Lady at the hospital. She was part of the Cresco Legion, but later transferred to the Elma John Frahm Auxiliary Unit 597. She served as the County Legion Auxiliary President for 2 terms. She also held the president’s office and several other officer positions for the John Frahm Post in Elma. Shirley belonged to several clubs: Federate Club, Crochet Club, Birthday Club, and Merry Makers. She also volunteered at Elma Colonial Manor Auxiliary, Memorial Hall remodeling project, HoCA, Advocate for Colonial Manor, Lourdes Rosary Society and ACCW.

Joseph and Shirley have 8 children, +Randy, Francis (Kelly Beck)-Elma, Karen (Jeff) Knutson-Saude, Ronald (Suzanne Schmitz)-Elma, Renee (Pat) Burke-Elma, Paula (Dean) Zweibohmer-Alta Vista, Daniel (Judy Kleve)-Bloomington, MN, and Michael (Retha Sievers)-Alta Vista.
Shirley’s 20 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren were the love of her life and greatest joy.

She will always be remembered for her homemade buns and kolaches, apple pie, her smile and caring ways.

Shirley was preceded in death by their son Randy, her parents Adolph and Mayme Vrba, her sister, Aileen Huinker and her brother, Roger Vrba.

Source: Conway - Markham Funeral Home database

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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