Eleanor Mae Chalupsky

ELEANOR MAE CHALUPSKY

Clutier

Eleanor Mae Chalupsky,

87, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at the Keystone Care Center. In accordance with her wishes, private family graveside services will be held at National Cemetery, Vining.

Eleanor was born on Feb. 21, 1930, to Charlie and Emma (Macek) Civis in Belle Plaine. She attended country school, and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1948. Later that year, she began work as a secretary for Mitvalsky's Hide and Fur in Cedar Rapids.

On June 24, 1952, she married Lloyd Chalupsky at the Belle Plaine Methodist Church. He preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 2009. They spent 57 years farming together on the family farm near Elberon. She and Lloyd also raised cattle and purebred Arabian horses. With Eleanor's love and knowledge for horses, known as "Chal Mar Arabians," they raised, had their horses shown in both halter and performance, and sold throughout the United States. Two of their horses earned highest honors in the late 1970s, one being in the U.S. National Top Ten, the other U.S. National Top Five. Eleanor also served as the secretary for several Iowa Arabian horse shows. Other than working the farm with Lloyd, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, the casinos and music. She remained on the family farm until November 2015, when she entered the Keystone Care Center. Eleanor was especially proud of her grandchildren: Olivia for her artistic abilities and Ryan for carrying on the heritage of farming the family farm that brought so much joy to Eleanor and Lloyd.

She is survived by her daughter, Diane (Jim) Goforth of Atkins; her granddaughter, Olivia (Dan Squires) Vavroch of Portland, Ore.; her grandson, Ryan (Allison) Vavroch of Elberon and their children, Lauren and Kelsey; her stepgrandchildren, Jennifer (Gabe) Bark and their children, Wyatt and Quincy of Marion, Janelle (Todd) Lund and their children, Sofie and Ana of Cedar Rapids, and Jordan Goforth of Cedar Rapids; her sister-in-law, Marne Chalupsky of Elberon; and her niece, Nancy Hartgrave of Elberon.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd; her sister-in-law, Helen; and her brothers-in-law, Alvin and Elmer Chalupsky.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Keystone Care Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Elberon Fire and Ambulance, c/o Alicia Lidtke, 3307 290th St., Elberon, IA 52225.

Phillips Funeral Home, Keystone, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

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