Dvorak, Thomas Junior 1930 - 2010

DVORAK, GERBER, BIGALK, MARK, ARENDS, WEDEKING, DOUGHTY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:22

Thomas Junior Dvorak, 80, of Cresco, Iowa passed away at the Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, IA.

Tom was born on May 24, 1930 to Lewis and Mary (Gerber) Dvoark{sic} in Cresco, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. He attended grade school in Cresco, and graduated from Cresco High School in 1948. Following graduation from high school, Tom worked at Bents Nursery and Diamond Brothers Grocery until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict in 1951. He graduated from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and from there, went to Bayonne, New Jersey where he attended service training school for the position of store keeper. From there he went to Sasebo, Japan where he boarded his ship, the U.S.S. Hitchiti. They patrolled several islands in the Pacific....serving one year in Alaska (Aleutian Islands) and one year in Hawaii (Oahu-Pearl Harbor), and other island locations. Tom received his Honorable Discharge in December 1954.

After returning home from service, he worked for the Skelley Oil Company, and in 1957 began work in the Howard County Engineering Department, a position he held for 37 years, doing surveying, road design, inspections, and office management. He obtained his training from Iowa State University in Ames and in Mason City that specialized in road and bridge repair and construction. He was office manager for several years before retiring in 1992.

Tom married Ethel Bigalk on July 22, 1956, at the Freemont Lutheran Church in rural Cresco. They lived their entire married life in Cresco. They became the parents of three children, Brenda, Sherry, and Barry.

Tom was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post 135. Tom enjoyed, fishing, gardening, shrubs, and flowers, and most importantly was spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved to attend their school and church activities, and was his top priority.

Tom taught Sunday School and served as superintendent for 25 years, was a member of the Brotherhood and their bowling team for several years. He also served on many church committees.

He is survived by his daughter Brenda Mark of Cedar Falls, IA, and her family, Gina (Mark) Arends, Noah, Blake, Jace, and Alexis, all of Cedar Falls, IA, and Sara Mark and her son Wyatt, of Cedar Rapids, IA, a son-in-law Kevin Wedeking, Kourtny and Kassandra Wedeking of Charles City, IA, a son Barry (Chris) of Cedar Falls, IA, and his family, Anna and Abigail of Cedar Falls, IA, a brother-in-law, Arlin and Dean Bigalk of Cresco, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, a daughter, Sherry Wedeking, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doris (Bigalk) and Tom Doughty, a nephew Dan Doughty, brother-in-laws, Wayne and William Bigalk.

Cemetery:
Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco.

Visitation:
Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2011 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, IA.

Service:
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, IA.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database

Oak Lawn Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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