Zahradnik remembered for public service

Jerry Zahradnik is remembered for his involvement in economic development and other Marion community activities.

'He was always willing to give his time and energy to various projects,” former Marion City Manager Jeff Schott said Wednesday. 'Jerry was very active with the MEDCO (Marion Economic Development Co.) where he served as chairman for several years and was on the board of directors for many years.”

Zahradnik, 74, died Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Rae Ellen; four sons, seven grandchildren and three brothers.

Zahradnik was the founder and former president and CEO of Vector Corp. in Marion (now Freund Vector). The company manufactures equipment for the processing of powders, particles, beads, pellets, tablets and other solid materials.

Vector got its start in 1972 when Cherry Burrell Co. in Cedar Rapids (now Evergreen Packaging) decided it wanted to focus on the packaging of liquid products. The company's tablet press unit in Hiawatha did not fit into its long-term plans.

Zahradnik, a Cherry Burrell product engineer, was assigned to help find a buyer.

Zahradnik secured some venture capital and teamed up with another engineer to buy the unit. They named it Vector, an engineering term that indicates force and direction.

In 1997, Zahradnik sold controlling interest in Vector to Freund Industrial Co. Ltd. of Tokyo.

Schott said Zahradnik created a corporate culture that embraces community involvement,

'When Jerry left the company, Steve Jensen, his successor, stayed equally involved,” Schott said. 'Jerry worked very hard to make that part of the culture throughout the company.”

Zahradnik also was active in numerous civic organizations. He was a charter member of Sunrise Rotary.