Koudelka, Wesley

Wesley Koudelka, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, by Chaplain Jeremy Hudson. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial: Ely Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Ely, with military honors.

Survivors include his wife, DeVota; daughters, Carol Wilson of Cedar Rapids, and Kay Oloff of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Jeffrey Novak, Rod Souchek, Benjamin Souchek, Brian Wilson and Kris Souchek; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Melanie, Jalyn, Jacob, Kyle and Anna Marie; and brother, Charles Koudelka of Mount Juliet, Tenn.

Wes was born April 28, 1920, in Cresco, Iowa, the son of Vaclav and Olga (Trachta) Koudelka. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II for four years, spending time in Italy and Africa. On June 26, 1946, he married DeVota Coghlan in Cedar Rapids.

Wes and DeVota enjoyed their retirement by spending winters in Weslaco, Texas, for 16 years. They have friends from all over the United States and Canada as a result of being a “Winter Texan.” He loved square dancing and was an avid Hawkeye fan, especially football and basketball. Wes' many hobbies included gardening and flowers, playing volleyball with his grandsons and watching golf and tennis on television.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, George.

Memorials are suggested to an organization dedicated to pets.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Wes at .

Published in The Gazette Oct. 2, 2012.