Drahozal, Wesley J.

Wesley J. Drahozal, 84, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the Solon Nursing Care Center from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Papich-Kuba Janeba Chapel West, 1604 J St. SW, where a Knights of Columbus rosary begins at 2 p.m. and a parish vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. The Czech Heritage Singers will honor Wesley with song at 4:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel.

Survivors include Olga, his loving wife of 62 years; children, Ruth Ann (Mike) McCormally, Cedar Rapids, Wesley M. (Beth) Drahozal, Des Moines, Walter F. (Jan) Drahozal, Solon, Arthur J. (Rukhsana) Drahozal and Denise (Jeff) Upah, both of Cedar Rapids, Becky (Terry) McGurk, Aurora, Colo., and Peter (Annie) Drahozal, Eldridge; 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Stanley J. (Barbara) Drahozal, East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Jerry A. (Joanne) Drahozal, Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wencil C. and Olga Ann (Hruska) Drahozal.

Wes was born Feb. 27, 1927, in Cedar Rapids and was a lifelong resident. After graduating from St. Wenceslaus High School, he served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. He married Olga Marie Sindelar on Aug. 7, 1948, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids.

Wes worked at Cherry Burrell from 1947 until 1952, when he was hired by the fledgling United Airlines in Cedar Rapids. He was employed by United for 37 years, retiring in 1989. During his years with United as freight agent, Wes became known as “Mr. Air Freight” of Cedar Rapids, even receiving mail at the airport addressed in that way. Always proud of his Czech ancestry, Wes was a charter member of the board of directors of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and instigated its application for national recognition. Together with his friend Ed Nejdl Wes was instrumental in establishing Sokol Park in Czech Village, and getting the Memorial Boulder reinstalled and rededicated there in July 2006.

Wes loved all things Czech, and in particular Czech music. He and his wife founded the Czech Plus Band in 1978, an organization of family and friends which has provided the area with authentic Czech band music since then.

Wes was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church, Catholic Workman (K.D. Branch 45), Knights of Columbus Council 909, Czech Heritage Foundation, Federation of Czech Groups, Sokol Cedar Rapids, Lodge Cedar Rapids 262 WFLA, Czech Village Association, American Legion Hanford Post 5 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 788.

Military graveside services will be conducted by American Legion Moomey-Vogel Post 727.

S Panem Bohem, milacku, a lehke odpocinuti. Uvidime se brzy.

(Go with God, sweetheart, and rest in peace. We'll see each other soon.)

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Wenceslaus Church or the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.