Kalous, Louise M.

Louise M. Kalous, 94, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW. Visitation will be one hour before services Friday at Brosh Chapel. Burial will be in Czech National Cemetery.

She is survived by four nieces, Fran Fleishman of Newport Beach, Calif., Norma Frohardt of Forest Ranch, Calif., and two nieces in the Czech Republic.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, George. A Kalous; her parents, Frank and Anna (Papilka) Shimek; her brother, Frank J. (Carolyn) Shimek; and her stepsister, Stella Kacerovsky.

Born Feb. 19, 1918, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Frank and Anna Shimek, she graduated from Grant High School and spent several years working for the Iowa /Illinois Gas and Electric Co. She married George Kalous on Aug. 12, 1937. Following George's honorable discharge from the Navy after World War II, the couple moved briefly to Oxnard, Calif., before settling back in Cedar Rapids. While in Cedar Rapids, Louise and George enjoyed a 50+-year friendship with two other couples with whom they would go to dances and listen to music.

Louise was a travel enthusiast. In 1958, she made her first journey overseas with her mother to visit family in the Czech Republic. Following her initial visit Louise returned each year with her husband, George. The two would rent a car, visit family, and venture throughout Europe. In 1984, Louise and George joined a travel group from the East Coast and visited several Asian countries, including Japan, China, Thailand and Singapore. On their way home they even stopped off to see the Iowa Hawkeyes play in the Hula Bowl.

Louise was an active member of the Elks Club, C.S.A. and NARFE.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Memorials may be directed to The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Louise's name.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com

Published Dec. 27, 2012 in The Gazette