Lester Dvorak

Lester W. Dvorak, 88, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2016, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. David Beckman. Visitation: 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with military honors by American Legion Post #727 and the Iowa National Guard Funeral Honor Guard. Survivors include his wife, Joanne; sons; David (Janice) Dvorak and Dennis (Colleen) Dvorak; sister, Libby Rozinek; sister-in-law, Patricia Boddicker; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Lester was born August 28, 1927, Covington, Iowa, the son of Frank and Rose (Lorenc) Dvorak. He honorably served in the US Army at the end of World War II and during the Korean Conflict. On August 27, 1949, he married Joanne Bruce in Cedar Rapids. Following his military service, Lester began as a carpenter apprentice for Bey Construction Company eventually becoming a union carpenter. Later he worked for Morehead Construction. In 1959, he started in the Building Department for the City of Cedar Rapids working as a building inspector. He retired as head plan checker after 29 years of service. Lester enjoyed gardening, carpentry, and playing Bingo. Over the years he built at least eight houses and doing many other projects across the city. This extra income was a way for his family to get ahead and have some savings. Lester was also a 50 year member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Frank and Stan; and sisters, Lucille and Georgie. Memorials are suggest to the American Legion Post #727 in Cedar Rapids.