Gilbert H. "Gib" Vondrak 1928 - 2006

MUIR, VONDRAK, WACKER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/25/2017 at 14:03:35

Sioux City Journal
7 February 2006

Gilbert H. "Gib" Vondrak, 77, of Merrill, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at a Sioux City hospital, after a lengthy illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael Catholic Church with the Rev. Gary Snyder officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. today at the church with the family present after 5:30 p.m. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. and a vigil service will be at 7 p.m.

Mr. Vondrak was born Dec. 31, 1928, in Perry Township, Plymouth County, the son of Frank and Gertrude (Muir) Vondrak. He attended Perry Center Grade School and graduated from Central High School, Sioux City in 1946. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He married JoAnn Wacker on Feb. 21, 1950, in Sioux City.

He was a lifelong resident of Siouxland. His life experiences included farming, working for Rice Brothers at the Sioux City Stock Yards, Bekins Furniture, managing and owning car lots and as a self-employed trucker.

He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and Assumption Catholic Church, Merrill, Iowa. He taught CCD, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Cursillo participant.

Gib loved farm life, especially sharing it with his grandchildren. His farm was a place for friends and family to come and enjoy. He was an avid supporter of the Catholic schools, finding joy watching his children and grandchildren participating in activities such as sports, music and band.

Music and dancing were his passions and teaching his grandchildren to enjoy them was one of his favorite things to do. He loved bargaining for cars, horses and trucks and teasing those around him, although he had trouble telling jokes straight because he usually lost the punch line.

Survivors include his wife JoAnn of Merrill; a daughter Gayle Cheever and her husband Mike, their children, Kristy and Cassie of South Sioux City, Jason of Olathe, Kan., and Nick and his wife Sarah and their children Gabby, Maggie and John Paul of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three sons, Greg and his wife Anna and their children, A.J., Adam and Becky, Curt and his wife Sue and their children, Michelle, Noelle, Katie, Maggie and Natalie, and Dan and his wife Dee and their children, Joshua, Tori and Rachel, all of Sioux City; two brothers, Francis and his wife Marguerite and Phil and his wife Donna Vondrak, all of Sioux City; two sisters, Florence Schroeder of Remsen, Iowa, and Evelyn Hansen of Petaluma, Calif.; four sisters-in-law, Jeune Vondrak of Kingsley, Iowa, Joan Vondrak of Le Mars, Iowa and Janice Vondrak and Therese Vondrak, both of California; and two brothers-in-law, Paul and his wife Darlene Niles of Moville, Iowa, and Rich and his wife Jean Clarey of California.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Gladys Niles, Shirley Clarey and Lucene Maxey and her husband Jim and brothers, Donald, Harold, Floyd and Eldon Vondrak.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Vondrak, Marcel Vondrak, Chris Vondrak, Scott Vondrak, Doug Casper, Steve Maxey and Gary Niles. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Mrla, John McGrath, Eldon Stolpe, Dick Feauto, Dick Foley, Brian Vondrak, Swede Nelson and Jim Dillon.