Oujiri, Zula M.

Zula M. Oujiri, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Hallmar of Mercy Medical Center. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 22, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church by Father Dennis Juhl and Father Thomas McDermott. Burial: St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. A rosary begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Zula M. Oujiri was born June 28, 1919 in Bridgewater, S.D., to Charles C. and Elizabeth Synder Cacek. She attended grade school in Bridgewater and then moved to Cedar Rapids where she graduated from Wilson High School. Zula graduated from Coe College in 1939 with a B.S. in mathematics. She started working at Collins Radio as a radio supervisor with IBM computers during World War II.

Zula married John A. Oujiri on Oct. 22, 1945, after he returned from combat in the European theater with the U.S. Army. Then, after the children were born, Zula went back to Coe to receive her teaching certificate in 1963, which then led her to teach at St. Ludmila's Catholic, Monroe, Hayes and Madison elementary schools over the next 21 years. She retired in 1983 to enjoy her grandsons, traveling with her husband and entertaining friends and family.

Zula was very active in the Cedar Rapids area. She was president and secretary for Cedar Rapids Lodge 262 of WFLA, previously known as ZCBJ. As a member of St. Ludmila Catholic Church since 1935, she organized St. Anne's Circle and had been a member for 64 years. She created and established the hot lunch program for the school. She was president of Altar and rosary Society and St. Anne's Circle. She was president of the American Legion Auxiliary and president of the Linn County American Legion Auxiliary.

Zula was proud of her Czech heritage. She served as president of the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library Guild, the Czech Heritage Foundation and the Damskeho Sboru Matice Skolske (ladies educational society). She also was a member of the Retired Teachers Association. She was the chairwoman for election polls for many years. Zula eas a member of VFW Auxiliary 788. She was a Camp Fire leader and Boy Scout leader. When Zula moved to Hallmar in 2005, she continued her active community life by assuming the presidency of the Residents' Council. As president, she advocated for a residents' van, and kitchen set up in the dining room, to mention a few of her accomplishments.

Zula is survived by her children, Cecelia Oujiri, Waterloo, Dr. John and Beth Oujiri, Ashland, Wis., Virginia and John Wilts, Cedar Rapids, and Colonel U.S. Army (Ret) Timon and Sandy Oujiri of Washington, D.C.; grandsons, Matthew and BrendaOujiri, St. Louis, Mo., and Dr. James and Dr. Meghan Oujiri; and great-grandson Connor Oujiri of Madison, Wis., John Oujiri ofIowa City, Timothy Oujiri of Minneapolis, Minn.; and sister-in-law, Betty Cacek Truesdell.

She is also survived by nieces, Christine Cawelti, Shannon Williams, Susan Monk, JoAnn Cameron, Karen Roth, Laurie Oujiri and Salli Fai Stockton; nephews, Craig Cacek, Charles Cacek and Don Cacek.

She was preceded in death by her husband John in 1996; her parents; her brothers, Charles and Vincent Cacek; her brother-in-law, Alvin Oujiri; and three sisters-in-law, Evelyn Oujiri, Shirley Cacek and Elaine Oujiri.

Zula touched many lives and kept in active contact with people from church, teachers, past students, and showed all how to love and be loved. She never considered anyone a stranger and always looked for the best in everyone. She was always a positive person and concerned for everyone, putting others before herself, even in her final days. Zulahad a big heart, and was the quintessential teacher. She loved learning through reading, and always encouraged others to be their best and make a difference in just one other life. Zula loved laughter, playing cards and teaching her grandsons how to play many card games. Nothing made her happier than gatherings with her family and friends.

Memorials can be made to WFLA Scholarship Fund, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, and St. Ludmila's Church, all in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Published in The Gazette June 20, 2012.