Vopava, Robert 1926 – 2002

VOPAVA, SWEHLA, DOUBEK, HAYEK, RIHA, PANOS, MOEN, COLLINS, SWESTKA, MURRAY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Feb. 26, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

PROTIVIN - Robert "Bob" Vopava, 75, Protivin, died Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002 at the Winneshiek Memorial Hospital, Decorah of natural causes.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held 11 a.m. Saturday. Feb. 23 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Protivin with Rev. John Moser celebrating the mass. The pall was placed on the casket by his wife and six daughters. Lector for the service was Matt Collins. The offertory gifts were presented by Kelly Moen, Stephanie Collins, Kim Huber and Jaymi Panos.
Interment was in Bohemian National Cemetery, rural Protivin with grandchildren Kurt Huber, Kory Huber, Bobby Swestka, Billy Swestka, Adam Hayek, Lynn Panos, Dustin Panos, Jesse Moen, Tom Collins and Lori Riha as pallbearers. Military Rites were conducted by the Protivin American Legion Post #805.
Visitation was 3-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 at Hugeback's Protivin Funeral Home, Protivin where there was a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture Service. Further visitation was from 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the funeral home.
Bob was born May 29, 1926 on the Vopava family farm in rural Winneshiek County, the son of Joe and Anna (Swehla) Vopava. He attended rural country school in Winneshiek County and Ridgeway High School. He served in the U.S Navy during WWII and was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class Aug. 1, 1946. On Nov. 5, 1949 in Milwaukee, he married Lorraine Doubek. They farmed northeast of Protivin. Bob also worked as a truck driver for Brenno Feeds and the Ossian Livestock Co. and was a substitute snow plow operator for Winneshiek County Secondary Roads. The couple moved into Protivin in 1978 after 24 years on the farm. After moving to town, Bob worked in maintenance for the City of Protivin. At the age of 80, Bob was baptized into the Catholic Faith. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Protivin American Legion Post #605 and ZCBJ (Western Fraternal Life Association) and a life member of Cresco VFW Post #456. Bob enjoyed playing cards, fishing, walking, hunting mushrooms and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine; six daughters, Susan Hayek, Decorah, Sandi (Bud) Riha, Cedar Rapids, Sharon (Jim) Panos, Protivin, Mary Moen, Decorah, Lou Ann (Matt) Collins, Madison, WI and Roberta (Gary) Swestka, Protivin, 15 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, Joe (Rosemary) Vopava, Ridgeway and a sister, Elaine Murray, Cresco.

Bohemian National Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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