Anderle, Arlene Mae

Arlene Mae Anderle, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at 84 years of age. Arlene was born in Cedar Rapids, on March 4, 1925. She was the daughter of Sylvia Hemsky Anderle and Frank C. Anderle, both who emigrated from Czechoslovakia.

Arlene graduated from the eighth grade at Rural School Edgewood No. 2, graduating second from the top scholastically. She then graduated from Roosevelt High School.

Arlene's career began at Inter-Ocean Reinsurance Co., where she worked for 20 years until the company moved to New York in 1970. During this time she also volunteered at St Luke's Hospital. She then took a position at Mercy Hospital from 1970 to 1976 as the 4W unit secretary and retired from St. Luke's Hospital in 1988, after 12 years of service as the 3W surgical unit secretary.

Arlene lived and worked on her parent's farm until their death in 1957 and 1959, and then purchased her home in northeast Cedar Rapids. She attended Kirkwood College where she took cultural courses and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She excelled in creative writing, and several stories and poems were published. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church.

Arlene was adventurous with many varied interests. As a member of the Iowa Mountaineers since she was in her 30s, she took several trips which included hiking the Grand Canyon and the Rockies, two European trips which included climbing the Middle Teton, the Triglav in Yugoslavia, hiking the Kabling in Czechoslovakia, and hiked mountains in Switzerland and Austria to the post point rope climb.

She traveled to the Czech Republic to trace her genealogy and met people who knew her father's family in the village of Siroky Dul and her mother's family, the Hempskys, from the village of Oucmanice.

Arlene was dedicated to her family and friends and brought a depth to all. She was known for her integrity, honesty, subtle humor and hard working pioneer spirit. She treasured her heritage, loved to learn about ethnic traditions and music, attended numerous ethnic festivals in Iowa and surrounding states, collected ethnic music and never lost her love of farming as she tended to her gardens. She will always be remembered as a loving aunt who introduced many fun loving experiences and ethnic family traditions.

Arlene was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert and LeRoy Anderle.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Charlene M. Anderle of Darien, Conn.; niece, Charlee A. Tufts; nephews, Cos Cob of Connecticut, Roger Anderle of Cedar Rapids, and Mark Anderle of Claremont, Calif.; great-niece and nephew. Ashley Tufts and Peter Tufts; and great- great-nephew and niece, Brayden and Malina.

At Arlene's express wishes there will be no services. Graveside service will be private. Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel is entrusted with services.

The family would like to thank Arlene's dear friends for their devoted and loyal support as well as the staff at Mercy Medical Center and Northbrook Care Center for their tender care.

Memorials may be directed to the Czech Museum Flood Relief.