Garlene Frances (Splichal) Knight

Garlene Frances (Splichal) Knight

Cedar Rapids

In conclusion of her well-lived life on earth, Garlene Frances (Splichal) Knight passed away peacefully on Sept. 4, 2023, with family by her side, in the comfort of the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. On Aug. 30, she and Fuzz had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

A full obituary is available at: www.papich-kubafs.com.

Garlene was born on Feb. 27, 1937, at St. Luke’s Hospital, the daughter of Godfrey and Nona (West) Splichal. She later became big sister to “Butch”.

She was born into a closeknit multi-generational Czech emigrant household where the cultural traditions and language were a part of daily life. She had a special relationship with her grandparents and was their frequent companion to many Czech community activities. Garlene was a nice gal who always had a beautiful smile, a lighthearted demeanor and a friendly and outgoing personality. Therefore, her life was filled with many friends and a lot of fun!

She went to Garfield School and graduated from Franklin High School in 1955 with her beloved friends. She also attended Coe College.

Summers were spent visiting her West grandparents in Mechanicsville. While there she attended a dance at Hi Way Gardens in Stanwood and met Keeran (Fuzz) Knight of Anamosa. They married at St. Matthew Catholic Church and had a baby baptized there in about each of the next three years.

She worked for a time at Iowa National and thereafter, Garlene was a busy and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and good neighbor. Her children and grandchildren counted on her for many things which she always provided with ease and without hesitation.

She participated in many groups where fellowship and good times were central to the activities. She achieved lifetime membership in the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Torchbearer Delta Chapter, where she was once selected as their Queen candidate; served as a Mercy Hospital Volunteer for nearly 40 years logging thousands of hours, primarily in the Flower Work Room; and was a President of the Twin Pines Women’s Golf Association.

Garlene was known to be lucky, whether it was her Hole-In-One on No. 8 at Ellis, winning raffles at the Pineapple Ball, a sandwich competition at Alfalfa’s Deli for her “Garlene’s Garden Delight,” or like, for getting a speeding ticket on Mother’s Day as she was driving her kids to Church! She and Fuzz attended the Iowa Limestone Producers Association annual convention for many consecutive years and with their ILPA friends helped to plan and carry out the “Rockbuster’s Ball.” Garlene always saw to it that they were decked out in full costume in-keeping with whatever the creative theme might have been.

Grandma Garlene cherished her grandchildren and enthusiastically attended their many sporting events, concerts and other activities. Several vacation spots became especially close to her heart, because she and Fuzz were able to spend time with their grandchildren there. For years they never missed a chance to ski with them in Aspen, Colorado, or walk the beaches of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with them.

It was a highlight of her life to have been able to visit her relatives in the Czech Republic.

She is reunited with her parents, Nona Marie (West) and Godfrey Splichal; grandparents, Iva Mae (Maurer) and Charles Henry (“Pete” or “Harry") West and Babi, Frantiska (Vobejda) and Jedo (Deda), Josef Splichal; uncles, Joe and Ed Splichal; cousin, Rose (Drahos) Krall and Mike; her-in-laws, Edna (Kehoe) and Victor Knight, JoAn Knight Herren, Kermit Johnson, Rose Ann (Knight) and Ivan Opperman, and Delores and Keith Knight. Special neighbors, Loretta and Don Kinzie; and the family dog Sniffer.

Left to follow the amazing example Garlene has set are her brother, “Butch”; husband, Keeran (Fuzz) Knight; children and spouses, Julie (David) Wiedner, Tom (Karen) Knight and Nancy (Kevin) Raue; grandchildren, Hailee and Kurt (Sarah) Raue and great-granddaughter, Pepper Mae; grandchildren, Christopher (Grace Hanson), Branden and Victoria Knight; her sisters and brother in-law, Phyllis (Knight) and Patrick Carey, Barbara (Knight) Johnson, Marilyn (Ivan) Opperman; her numerous Knight family nieces, nephews and extended relatives, numerous West family cousins and her family in the Czech Republic.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Sept. 15, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street SE, with a Time of Remembrance and Sharing beginning at 7 p.m. Burial will take place the following morning at Czech National Cemetery.

Special Thank You’s at this time to: Garlene’s beloved classmates from the Franklin Class of ’55 for remaining her friends always; Mail Carrier, Roger, who exchanged smiles and waves with her; the Hospice of Mercy Care Team and Fr. Dennis Conway.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.