Althea Kuzela

ALTHEA KUZELA

Marion

Althea (Yeater) Kuzela, 81, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Marion, early Saturday morning, June 28, 2014, after sudden complications from a recent reoccurrence of cancer and hours after taking pleasure in celebrating her 55th wedding anniversary with her beloved husband and daughter.

She was born March 5, 1933, in Morley, Iowa, to Charles and Gladys (Klinkkammer) Yeater. She attended schools in Morley and Mechanicsville. On June 27, 1959, she married the love of her life,

Leonard "Len" Kuzela, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who adored her since they first met. Shortly afterward, they moved to northern California, where they were blessed with two children, Larry and Lisa, whom she loved very much.

In 1974, they returned to Cedar Rapids, where she worked 17 years as a seamstress at St. Luke's Hospital and for years enjoyed playing in bowling leagues with her husband and friends. Althea treasured the trip she took with her husband to Czechoslovakia, along with cruises throughout the Caribbean, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. She valued the laughs shared playing Rummikub with her husband and daughter.

She enjoyed playing in the pool with her friends from her water aerobics class at the Marion YMCA and cherished her friendships with "the ladies" from her TOPS IA 554 group. She also had fun "playing the slots" in Tama with her sisters and friends and special family friend, Lyle McNeal.

Althea was known for her quick and spontaneous sense of humor, great cooking and remarkably astute memory, in addition to her genuine thoughtfulness, kindness and giving heart. She was especially known for her endless love and affection for her family and loads of friends, all of whom will deeply miss her.

Her incredible strength and courage have been a role model for all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard; children, Larry and Lisa; in addition to sisters, Violet (Yeater) McDonald and sister, Evelyn (Yeater) Port; brother, Marvin and sister-in-law, Joanne Yeater; sister-in-law, Gladys Yeater; two grandchildren; and many nieces and

nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mom and dad; her brother, Edward and wife Barbara (both of Cedar Rapids); and brothers, Malvin (Tujunga, Calif.) and Ronald Yeater (Parnell, Iowa).

Her husband and children welcome visiting with family and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home at

4200 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of Memories at the same location, at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3. She will be laid to rest in the Garden of Tranquility.

Please sign and share your memories of her at

www.cedarmemorial.com.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer

Society.