Lenora Watson

LENORA JELINEK WATSON

Cedar Rapids

Lenora Jelinek Watson died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, at her home. She was 93 years old and was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, in Cedar Rapids, where the funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday. Military services will be at the gravesite.

Lenora is survived by her four children, Tom Watson of Palo, Louanne (Jack) Ryon of Rock Hill, S.C., and Pam (Ken) Lewis and Susan (Bill) Sutton of Cedar Rapids. She also has eight grandchildren, Isaiah (Emily) Ryon of Rock Hill, S.C., Quentin (Alanna) Lewis of Toronto, Canada, Robin Miller of Marion and Conner Lewis, Sara (Les) Ohlhauser, Laura Watson (Mitch Randal), Richie and Davis Sutton of Cedar Rapids; and four great-grandchildren, Dominic Lewis of Toronto, Canada, Olivia Grace Ryon of Rock Hill, S.C., and Allen and Nataleah Miller of Marion.

Lenora was born to Czech immigrant parents in Cedar Rapids in 1922. She attended the old Edgewood School and graduated from Roosevelt High School. When World War II started, she enlisted in the Navy and served as a Wave Nurse in Pearl Harbor, Boston and New York. She was always very proud of her military service. After the war, she returned to Cedar Rapids and married Wayne Watson. They were together until his death in 1994.

In the 1960s, she took over her father's booth at the City Market and for many years was known for her beautiful vegetables, baked goods and craft items. After retiring from the market, she began to regularly attend craft fairs in the area, selling hand woven rugs, potholders, aprons and pillows. She was an active member of the East Iowa Heirloom Quilters and for many years was in charge of its program of making quilts for various shelters in the area. When the big Flood of 2008 hit, she was right there making quilts for hundreds who had lost their home.

Lenora also was known as the "Apron Lady." She would grab her two suitcases full of aprons and give talks on the history of aprons to church groups and organizations in the area. She enthusiastically donated her time to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. She would dress up in her Kroj (folk costume), speak to visitors in Czech and serve as a docent to the museum. This led her to be an active member of the Museum Guild and the Czech Heritage Society. She also loved singing with the Czech Singers and being a part of anything related to her Czech heritage. She was awarded the Presidents Volunteer Service Award in 2005.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Rapids Milestones or Czech Heritage Foundation.

Lenora loved giving and doing. She will be greatly missed by many.