Leona Anne Stepanek
August 8, 1915 ~ March 1, 2011
Leona Anne Stepanek, 95, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at All Saints Catholic Church, by Rev. David O'Connor. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 4, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Cedar Rapids with a vigil service at 5:30 p.m. and a rosary to follow. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial: St. John's Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. She is survived by four sons, Daniel Stepanek of New Canaan, Connecticut; Bernard (Sharon) Stepanek of Fresno, California; Stephen Stepanek of Cedar Rapids, Jim (Julie) Stepanek of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and daughter, Joan (Don) Hurla of Clinton, Iowa. Seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Lori Stepanek and Brian Stepanek of Fresno, California, Chris and Amy Hurla (Alex, Sidney, Michael and Jake) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Amy and Gary Lawson (Ben & Sam) of Santa Rosa, California, Trisha (Stepanek) Jeff McClure of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Michelle Stepanek of Chicago and Peter Stepanek, UNI. Leona Anne Stepanek was born August 8, 1915 in Cedar Rapids. She was the daughter of August and Bessie (Dvorak) Dohnalek. Leona attended St. Ludmila School, Wilson School and graduated from Grant High School in 1933. After graduation, she worked for Witwer Grocery as an administrator. Leona married Emil Stepanek on May 18, 1937 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. For many of her earlier years her passion was committed to staying at home to raise her children with the intention for them to reach their dreams. She later joined the workforce, and after 16 years with Iowa National Mutual Insurance, she retired. She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and volunteered at Mercy Hospital. Some of her favorite activities were square dancing with her husband and friends; baking the most wonderful kolaches and other Czech dishes; and shopping with her daughter, sons and friends. Her happiness however did not reside in possessions, but the feeling of happiness that dwells in the comfort of being with her family and friends. Leona also enjoyed the competitive game of Pinochle, during which she often discussed the world's current news and situation. Leona was loved by her family and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Emil who passed away in 1999 and brother, Don Dohnalek, who died in 2009. The family would like to thank the Mercy Hospital Palliative Care Team, and the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House for their supportive and caring attitude for our mother. And a special thanks to the dedicated nurses and CNA's at the Hiawatha Care Center who made Leona's stay as comfortable as possible. Because of her heart filled joy with giving and helping others throughout her life, memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army at 1000 C Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405.
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Jim: Sorry to hear about your mom. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Gary Kaplan & Joan McCalmant
I really miss Leona, I was so sad to hear of her passing. She was one of my favorite people, and I was always happy to help her. She must have been an awesome mother to have such devoted kids, and you will always have such wonderful memories. Take care, and I will always remember her.
Losing a mother and grandmother is always difficult, especially when they are dearly loved. Leona’s journey in this life may have ended, but her journey in the next one, with all those she loved that left before her, has just begun. I hope the following is a source of peace during this time of loss.
Marietta Sanford (Bernie Stepanek’s sister in law)
Parable of Immortality, by Henry Van Dyke – 1852 – 1933
I am standing by the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch
until at last she hangs like a peck of white cloud
just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, ‘There she goes!
Gone where? Gone from my sight – that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the places of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
‘There she goes! ‘ ,
there are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout :
‘Here she comes!’