Biography of FRANK J. MARUSKA

Frank J. Maruska came to Alta Vista, Iowa around 1899, after his marriage to Clara Ruzicka and entered into employment with the Timmerman Brothers, general merchants from 1899 to 1901, as a clerk. Following this venture, he went to work for E.C. Brenner, a general merchant, also in Alta Vista, as head clerk, and continued working at E.C. Brenner for seven years at two different periods. In the fall of 1905, he left Alta Vista to manage a grocery store in Dickinson, North Dakota, but the following year went to the Twin Cities, and for four months was employed by the Saint Paul Railway Company. He then returned to Alta Vista with his wife and family and became an employee of Mr. Brenner again with whom he remained until 1910, when he moved to Cresco, Iowa, and then he moved to Elma, Iowa in the 1930's and worked for Charles Klobassa Sr. Then he moved back to Alta Vista in June 1933, and worked and managed the Alta Vista Equity Association Store until 1938, and acted as manager until it was sold to Victor Johnson.

Frank and his family then moved to Charles City, Iowa to make their home. Frank and Clara Maruska became the parents of six children: Mildred Boetcher (deceased); Regina (deceased); Clarence, who married the former Bernice Frantzen from Alta Vista, (deceased); Mabel Wentworth (deceased); Agnes Hruska (deceased); and Roger living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mabel and Mildred were the two children born in Alta Vista during their stay.

History of Alta Vista, Iowa 1894 -1994,
"The Friendly Town"
Anundsen Publishing Company, Decorah, Iowa
Transcribed by Paul Maruska, 2009