Melva Eileen Petrak

PETRAK, LEENEY, COONEY, HEDGES, KRON, KALLAUS, THORMANN, SATTERLY

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 1/17/2013 at 10:13:56

Melva Eileen Petrak, 93, of Coralville, died at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City on Friday January 11, 2013, surrounded by her family, under the care of Iowa City Hospice.
Visitation will be Tuesday January 15 from 4 -7pm at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am Wednesday, January 16 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either St. Mary’s or to Iowa City Hospice.

Melva was born Sept. 3, 1919 in Oxford, IA. She was the daughter of James and Winifred Cooney Leeney. She was the second of five Leeney daughters; Vivian (Hedges), Bernice (Kron), Mary (Kallaus) and Marge (Thormann). She graduated from Oxford high school in 1938 where she also played basketball. Melva obtained a nurses aide certification through the U of I where she worked in pediatrics for two years.

Melva moved to Detroit, MI. where she got a job at Chrysler as “Rosie the Riveter” working on airplanes during the war. When the war ended she worked on Chrysler cars.

Melva married Richard Petrak, of North Liberty on April 29, 1944. After eight years in Detroit they returned to Iowa City in 1951 and purchased a home in Coralville – the only home they ever lived in. They had three children; Ann, Bill and Mike. She worked at Oaknoll for ten years and worked at Hillcrest Dormitory for 14 years.

Melva enjoyed bowling and also liked playing cards, especially Euchre. She liked the Cubs and the Hawkeyes. She was a member of the Coralville Rec Center’s exercise group and she lived independently until recently. At age 81 she traveled to Ireland with family to celebrate her Irish heritage. At 85 she went to Scotland. At 90 she celebrated with a large party at St. Mary’s. Melva recently traveled to Denver with family to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed her Coralville neighbors, including longtime friend Julie Weidner.

Survivors include her children Ann (Kevin) Satterly of Coralville; Bill (Cindy) Petrak of Waukee, IA; and Mike (Missy) Petrak of Denver, CO. Grandchildren include Ryan and Nicole Satterly, Jacob and Nate Petrak, and Hannah and Nick Petrak. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard and her four sisters.