Polehna, Milton Charles

Milton Charles Polehna, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Memorial and Masonic services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church with Rev. William Harnish presiding. Burial will follow in Czech National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, temporarily located at 3100 F Ave. NW. Visitation also will be an hour prior to the service Monday at the church.

Milton was born January 11, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents Andrew and Blanche Novak Polehna. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Confict. He married Joyce Heral on June 25, 1950, at Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church. He and his father owned Andrew Polehna and Son Meats, and he also worked for Wilson Foods. He was a Past Master of Crescent Lodge 25, a 32 Degree Freemason, and a member of the El Kahir Shrine. Milt was a member of Sokol, Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church and CSA. He enjoyed fishing and hunting as well as spending time with his family.

Milt is survived by his children Mike (Joni) Polehna of Stillwater, Minn., Tom (Priscilla) Polehna of Cedar Rapids and Christine (Paul) Hartman of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Katy (Matt) Stolba, Andrew (Katie) Polehna, Jordan Polehna and Tim (Anya) Polehna; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Ditch of Ely.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce Polehna; a son, Todd Polehna; a brother, Aldrich Polehna; and his stepmother, Rose Bartunek Polehna.

A memorial fund has been established in his name.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice Home of Mercy as well as Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at