Jirak, Gordon Edmund 1931 - 2015

JIRAK, KUHN, DULLUM, HALWAS, SCHMITT, OBRIEN, WEMARK, MEANS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/3/2015 at 15:55:27

BONITA SPRINGS, FLA - A Mass of Christian Burial for Gordon E. Jirak of Bonita Springs, Fla. was held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Our Lady of Light Catholic Community, Fort Myers, Fla. Interment with Military Honors was held at 2:30 p.m. at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home in Bonita Springs handled the arrangements.

Gordon, 83, died on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Joanne's House at Hope Hospice. Formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa he had been a resident of both Fort Myers and Bonita Springs for the past 27 years.

Gordon Edmund Jirak was born Sept. 5, 1931, in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, the son of Adolph and Mary (Kuhn) Jirak. He was a Korean War veteran who served in the United States Navy aboard the Battleship USS Iowa. He attended Iowa State Teachers College which is known today as University of Northern Iowa.

His 44 year career was spent working as an airline customer service agent for Ozark Air Line, TWA and American Airlines, where he retired from in 2001. Many passengers at the Waterloo Regional Airport commonly referred to Gordon as "Mr. Waterloo".

Gordon was a faithful member of the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Light Council 10498 and the Our Lady of the Rosary Assembly 2542. He was also a Past Grand Knight in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Gordon was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed farming and gardening.

Gordon is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Eileen T. Jirak; his children: Steven (Dixie) Jirak of Algonquin, Ill. Brian (Kathy) Jirak of Charlotte, N.C., Denise Jirak Dullum of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Deanne (Mark) Halwas of Milwaukee, Wis.; a brother: Richard (Joyce) Jirak of Cresco; sisters: Camella (Lester) Schmitt of Lime Springs, Dorothy (Charles) O'Brien of Stewartville, Minn., and Marlene (Lynn) Wemark of Cresco; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters: Elaine Means and Alma Mae Jirak.

Source: Cresco Times March 31, 2015