Alma Margaret Vavricek, daughter of Adolph and Emma (Kuhlavy) Vavricek, was married to Charles 'Chuck' Wesley John, son of Charles J. John (deceased) and Olga Barbara (Suchomel) Bena on

Tuesday, August 28, 1945. The

ceremony took place in the St.

Wenceslaus parsonage by Rev. J.L. Kissling and was witnessed by Mr.

Marvin and Mrs. Dorothy Nemecek of Cedar Rapids.

Alma wore a white satin gown with tulle overlay with a white fingertip length veil and lace edging. She carried red roses and white chrysanthemums. Chuck wore a suit and tie. Dorothy is Chuck's sister and wore a short-sleeved, light blue gown with tulle overlay, and had flowers with ribbon in her hair. She carried gladiolas and chrysanthemums. Marvin Nemecek wore his Army uniform while on leave from Missouri.

Chuck was born December 4, 1919 in Cedar Rapids. He was a quiet boy and a hard worker, helping his younger siblings farm his mother's farms. He was a driver and mechanic during WWII. Chuck was decorated with a Bronze Star,

Distinguished Unit Badge with 1st Silver Oak Leaf, European, African, Middle-

Eastern Theatre ribbon with one Silver and three Bronze battle stars and a Meritorious Unit Award plus cited a Purple Heart during his 38 months of service in the Army. Chuck's accolades and

Eisenhower jacket are presently on

display at the Cedar Rapids Veterans

Memorial museum. After the war, Chuck and Alma settled in Stumptown amongst their family and neighbors. There, they grew award-winning gladiolas and traveled with them around the region to flower shows. Chuck made a living as a meat cutter at Wilson's until he retired.

Alma was born August 20, 1921 in Ely. She cleaned homes and worked retail as a young woman. She met a dapper young man named Chuck at a dance when their romance ensued into marriage. Alma's taking care of her husband, parents and home was her joy. We all also know that she kept a very tidy home, one that we all admired.

Chuck and Alma loved Polka dancing. Their personal Polka music collection grew as they traveled to states to attend many Polka events. The Johns met many new friends at these dances and kept in touch with them even after they stopped going. Their friendships grew even more when Chuck and Alma walked the

Cherokee trail in Cedar Rapids and

Westdale Mall for exercise.

Chuck passed away suddenly March 8, 2008. Alma continued to live in the home that they built together in 1959 on 24th Street NW; she passed away on January 2nd, 2015. Chuck had said he would wait for Alma halfway to heaven. I am sure he did wait there and was so very pleased to see her again.

Because neither Chuck nor Alma wanted an obituary when they passed, I feel it

appropriate to commemorate their lives and the love they had with each other by this memory. August 28, 2015, was their 70th wedding anniversary.

– Lisa Bena Phillips,

Chuck and Alma's Niece