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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Clyde P. Straka
Clyde P. Straka
Cedar Rapids
Clyde P. Straka, 91, a resident of the Hiawatha Care Center, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away early Friday, March 24, 2023, at the care center. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at St. Jude’s Catholic Church by Father Nick March. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, and after 9 a.m. Friday at the church. A rosary will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Clyde is survived by his daughter, Madonna (Michael) Schirm, Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Christopher (Jessica) Schirm, Cedar Rapids and Sarah (Benjamin) Avery, West Des Moines; siblings, Donald (Judy) Straka, rural Spring Grove, Minn., and Darlene (Larry) Lerch, Marion; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; parents, Paul and Libbie (Vojt) Straka; sister, Vera Kucera and brother, Joseph Straka.
Clyde was born April 11, 1931, in Marion, and lived in the Marion and Cedar Rapids area his entire life. He married Mildred M. Kupka on July 9, 1966, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Mildred died March 13, 2015. In his early years, Clyde farmed near Central City and later was employed at the Sanitary Farm Dairies in Cedar Rapids. He was also a mechanic and owned and operated “Clyde’s Lawn Boy Service” until his retirement in 1997. Clyde was an Army veteran and had served during the Korean War. He was a member of the Hiawatha American Legion Post 735. He was a longtime member of Saint Jude’s Catholic Church. Clyde enjoyed gardening and woodworking.
Clyde’s family wishes to thank the staff at the Hiawatha Care Center and Dr. Mary Anne Nelson for their compassionate care.
Military graveside services will be conducted by the Cedar Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude’s Catholic Church and Xavier High School.
Online condolences may be left for Clyde’s family at www.papich-kubafs.com under “obituaries.”
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