David Cilek

DAVID CILEK

Solon

David Cilek, 79, of Solon, died Friday, May 29, 2015, at Solon Skilled Nursing and Care Center. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted by the Solon American Legion. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Brosh Chapel in Solon, located at 100 S. Cedar St.

David was born Feb. 12, 1936 in Iowa City, the son of John and Marie (Conner) Cilek. He married Jocile Marie Stahle on Oct. 17, 1957, in Solon. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Dave worked for over 36 years at the Iowa City Press- Citizen, a Gannett publication.

Dave was a member of the American Legion and St. Mary's Catholic Church. He served as a Solon volunteer firefighter and on the Solon Planning Commission. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a notable giant pumpkin grower, winning a Northern Hemisphere award for the "Best Looking" giant pumpkin. He was a winemaker, an arborist, a chainsaw artist, and an accomplished cook. People most enjoyed his storytelling and his humor.

Dave is survived by his two children, Doug Cilek of Solon and Cathy Cilek and husband Charley Luckhardt of Alamo, Calif.; five grandchildren, Lauren Bowers and husband Ryan Bowers of West Branch, Logan Cilek and wife Jayme Cilek of West Branch, Charley Luckhardt IV of Alamo, Calif., Leah Cilek of West Branch and Allyson Luckhardt of Alamo, Calif.; and two great- grandchildren, Teddy Bowers and Mason Cilek. Also surviving are his sisters, Kathryn Henik and husband Roland of Mount Vernon and Ellen Stout of Solon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Jocile (Stahle) Cilek, and an infant brother.

Memorials may be directed to the family at 202 E. Elm St., Solon.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.