Donald Skala

DONALD ROBERT SKALA

Cedar Rapids

Donald Robert Skala,

92, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at Brooklyn Community Estates in Brooklyn. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, where there will be full military rites. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, where there will be a 6 p.m. vigil at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW.

Donald was born Aug. 23, 1923, in Shueyville, the son of Louis and Mary (Jiras) Skala. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in New Guinea, Philippines and Japan. Don was united in marriage to Maxine Benda on Nov. 5, 1946, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. He worked at Iowa Steel, was a milk hauler for Garrison Creamery and retired from FMC Linkbelt Speeder.

Don enjoyed carpentry work, tinkering in his garage, volunteering at church, listening to Sunday morning Czech music, watching the Hawkeyes and Cubs, playing cards with his friends and most of all, spending time with his family, especially his grandkids.

Donald is survived by his children, Shirlee (Marvin) Lynn, Jim (Cathy) Skala, Gary (Lori) Skala, Bob Skala, Lori (Ron) Grant, Deb (Randy) Kellison and David (Julie) Skala; grandchildren, John (Tiffany) Lynn, Paul (Julie) Lynn, Lisa (Jeff) Rhinehart, Shari (James) Ross, Shane (Cath) Skala, Kristi (Jarin) Hansen, Megan Hodgins, Jenny (Keith) Zerbee, Katie and Trisha Skala, Ashley, Kyle and Zachary Grant, Britni (David) Warburton, Brooke (Josh) Lorenzen and Blake Kellison, Taylor, Derrick, Nathan, Lauren and Logan Skala; great-grandchildren, Anthony (Nicole) Hansen-Lynn, Eris, Garner and Mitch Lynn, Colton, Mackenzie, Hunter and Dalton Lynn, Shelbee and Morgan Rhinehart, Jacob and Sydney Ross, Amaya, Malik and Reese Skala, Caden, Alayna and Paisley Hansen, Hayden and Kingsley Hodgins, Makayla Coutentos and Faith Zerbee, Ella Faul and Maci Lorenzen; a sister-in-law, Mary Burrier; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Maxine, who died Dec. 29, 2006; a grandson, Jeffrey Lynn; a brother, Richard Skala; his sister, Betty Jane (Dale) Ruchotzke; sister-in-law, Pat Ritchey; brother-in-law, Martin (Marilyn) Benda; and three siblings in infancy.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mel and Essence of Life Hospice, as well as the staff at Brooklyn Community Estates for their loving care of Don and his family.

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