Barta, Richard S. 'Dick'

Richard S. “Dick” Barta, 86, of Cedar Rapids, died May 29, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids due to complications from Parkinson's disease. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, where a vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, June 3, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church by Father Dennis Juhl. Burial will be at St. John's Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Dick was born April 30, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Joseph and Emma (Havlena) Barta, the ninth of 10 children. He married Shirley Mae Price of Cedar Rapids on March 22, 1948. Born to this union were seven children.

Dick served in the U.S. Coast Guard (Merchant Marines Services) from 1942-45 during World War II. He was a commercial truck driver for several Cedar Rapids trucking companies for over 30 years. After retirement he was a school bus driver (aka Mr. B) for 12 years. Through his driving experiences and long before the advent of GPS, he was able to give exact directions (with alternate routes) to virtually any location in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area!

Dick was a storyteller with an amazing recall of long-past events; tales about growing up in Cedar Rapids during the Great Depression, his World War II adventures on Liberty ships on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and family events long forgotten by other participants. He was an avid sports fan who especially loved the Chicago Cubs and Iowa State Cyclones on TV and AM radio broadcasts.

Dick was an active volunteer in the St. Ludmila Parish and the community. He volunteered countless hours coaching, acting as parish handyman and collecting Coats for Kids. In 1988, he received the Governor's Volunteer Award.

Dick and Shirley recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Surviving family include his wife, Shirley; children, Jackie (Dale) Hanna, Dianne (Steve) Krumbholz, Richard (Debra) Barta, Robert (Susan) Barta, Cindy (Tom) Smidt, Susan (Reid) Riggle and Angela (Doug) Schulte; and 10 grandchildren, Lauren (Nathan) Vondra, Richie and Alexander Barta, Ethan (Elyssa) and Kellen Smidt, Hannah and Jonah Riggle, Emily, Grant and Madison Schulte.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joseph, George and Charles; and sisters, Emily, Mary and Agnes.

He is survived by sisters, Anna St. Germain, Dorothy Newgard of California and Pat Waskow of Marion.

Our special thanks to the Mercy Medical Center staff for their loving care during his final days.

A memorial fund has been established for St. Ludmila Catholic Church.

Published May 31, 2013 in The Gazette