JIRAK, Helen Antionette (Kuntz) 1909-1999

ZOBEL, KUNTZ, JIRAK, DOSTAL, MIKESH

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/17/2010 at 17:11:23

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999

Helen Antionette Jirak

Helen Jirak, 90, of Fort Atkinson, died Friday, Sept. 24, 1999, at the New Hampton Care Center after a short illness.

A funeral mass was held Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 10:30 a.m., at St. John's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, with the Rev. Allen Schmitt officiating.

Music was provided by the St. John's parish choir. The casket bearers were Jerry Jirak, David Jirak, Jack Schmitt, Mike Jirak, Gene Jirak and Tom Schmitt.

Interment was at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Little Turkey. The Chekal Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Helen Antionette (Kuntz) Jirak was born March 29, 1909, in Fort Atkinson, the daughter of Frank and Stella (Zobel) Kuntz.

She attended country school and attended high school in New Hampton for one year.

On June 21, 1926, she married Edward Jirak at Assumption Catholic Church in Little Turkey. To this union three children were born, Vernelle, Edward and James.

Helen and Edward farmed. She also worked as a telephone operator in Fort Atkinson and was a cook at the school there for many years.

On Oct. 27, 1997, she moved into the New Hampton Care Center.

Survivors include one daughter, Vernelle and W.A. Dostal of Ossian; two sons, James and Barbara Jirak, and Edward and Helen Jirak, both of Fort Atkinson; and 13 grandchildren, Mary Ann Rosendahl, John T. Schmitt. Tom Schmitt, Kathryn Fleming, Steve Schmitt, Mike Jirak, David Jirak, Gene Jirak, Jerry Jirak, Joan Bakley, Joyce Uhlenhake, Jane Gilb and Janet Bodensteiner.

Thirty-seven great-grandchildren also survive: Tami Stout, Terry and Missy Rosendahl, Mike, Matthew and Nathan Schmitt, Nikki Steele, Kristean Sloufle. Angela Redmond, Heidi Wormley, Eric and Emily Fleming, Andrea, Jordan, Alex, Jason, Jennifer and Jackie Jirak, Gretchen, Jessica, James, Marie and Emily Uhlenhake, Anton and Ben Gilb, Kristy, Lori, Eric and Britt Bodensteiner, Melinda, Sonja, Ruth, Alicia, Amanda, Miranda, Kristine and Alex Bakley; and eight great-great-grandchildren, Mitchel and Jacob Stout, Tyler and Zackery Steele, Jordan Schmitt, Kort and Kelsey Redmond and Samantha Wormley.

Helen Jirak was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward, in 1983; and a sister, Adeline Mikesh.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.