116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Evelyn Zalesky
EVELYN MARIE ZALESKY
Cedar Rapids
Evelyn Marie Zalesky, 95, passed away on Nov. 29, 2016, in Melbourne, Fla., after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, with the Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Morey officiating.
Evelyn Marie Zalesky (Louvar) was born Nov. 5, 1921, in Shueyville, Iowa. She was the daughter of George Louvar and Della Novotny Louvar. Evelyn grew up on a farm with her parents and four brothers in Shueyville. She was a "tomboy" and did everything her brothers did, climbing trees, riding horses, as well as helping with the chores on the farm. The family home was just a block from the country school and church. While in school, Evelyn played the bass drum in the band and was in many school plays. She graduated from high school in 1939. She taught Sunday school and served as the church secretary. In 1940, Evelyn married John William Zalesky, and they raised their two children, Garry and Jeanne, in Cedar Rapids.
Evelyn and John (Johnny) were married for 68 years. Evelyn was the mother of two, grandmother of two and great-grandmother of two!
Evelyn enjoyed gardening and always had a large flower and vegetable garden. In the middle 1950s, Evelyn developed an interest in watercolor painting. The themes in her paintings were inspired by beautiful flowers, the Iowa farmlands and from the family's travels to Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin and Colorado. She exhibited her works, won a number of awards and sold her paintings throughout her artistic career.
Evelyn's beloved husband, John, passed away Feb. 19, 2009. In 2012, Evelyn moved to Florida to live with her daughter, Jeanne, and husband, Henry.
Evelyn is survived by her son, Garry (Sandy) Zalesky; and daughter, Jeanne (Henry) Slaughter; grandchildren, Mark (Christina) Zalesky and Renee (Erich Gottschalk) Zalesky; and great-grandchildren, John Zalesky and Caelyn Zalesky Gottschalk.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents and her four brothers, Guy Louvar, Harold Louvar, Otto Louvar and Arthur Louvar.
Memorials may be directed to Calvin Sinclair Presbyterian Church or to the Alzheimer's Association.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.
Daily Newsletters