William Frank Vesely (1890 - 1945)

VESELY, HERMESEN

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/26/2022 at 13:00:37

Vesely Dies; Music Tutor
William F. Vesely, instructor of instrumental music in the Cedar Rapids school system for 21 years, died at his home at 1637 Wildwood drive NE early Wednesday. He was 56 years old. He had been ill of cancer since the first of the year and had been confined to his home since May.

Despite his illness, Mr. Vesely had been granted a new contract to teach in the schools next year at a recent meeting of the board of education. He was instructor of instrumental music at Roosevelt high school where he had served since the school was opened in the fall of 1935.

Developed Champions
During his 21 years as an instructor of music in the school system, Vesely had developed a number of state high school music champions. A number of his former pupils are now members of well-known bands.

A graduate of Washington high school in 1907, Mr. Vesely attended the Vander Cook school of Music in Chicago, at the University of Iowa and Northwestern university and he studied under A. F. Weldon of Chicago, one of the nation’s great trombone Teachers.

Conductor of both the Shrine and Eagles band, he also organized the old Penick and Ford company band and a Boy Scout band in Cedar Rapids.
He was a member of the famous 53rd regimental band of the Iowa National Guard in 1911, and also played in the old People’s theater orchestra on First street NE and the original majestic theater orchestra. His work in the theater bands developed friendships for Vesely with Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers, Al Jolson, Jack Benney, Mary Livingston and others.

City Golf Winner
Vesely was also a golfer of prominence in Cedar Rapids. The game was his hobby, and he won the municipal championship several times while that tournament was still being staged here.

He was a member of the Shrine, Mt. Hermon lodge and the Consistory, the Elks club and the First Presbyterian church.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Sandra, 8 and Sharon, 7 and two children from a former marriage. Mrs. James Hermesen, 1051 Daniels Street NE and Theodore, now in the service; two brothers, Stanley, 925 Twentieth street SE and Robert, 1399 Elmhurst drive NE; his mother, Mrs. Anna Vesely, 1399 Elmhurst drive NE and a number of nieces and nephews.

The body is at Polansky’s chapel. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. (Source: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA) 8 Aug 1945, Wed., pg. 8)

Vesely Services
Services for William F. Vesely, 54, who died early Wednesday, will be conducted in the Chapel of Memories, Cedar Memorial Park, Friday at 2:30 pm by the Rev. Robert Little. The services will be followed by the Rose Croix service of the Masonic order. There will be cremation committal. The family requests that no flowers be sent. Friends may call at the Polansky chapel. (Source: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA) 9 Aug 1945, pg. 6)