Leona Mary (Novak) Samek

LEONA MARY (NOVAK) SAMEK

Cedar Rapids

Leona Mary (Novak) Samek, 102 of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at West Ridge Care Center. Celebration of Life services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St., SW. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time on Monday. Burial: Czech National Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include son, Gary A. (Eileen) Samek; daughter, Renee M. (Kevin) Kubik; grandsons, Brian Samek, Kory Kubik and Sean (Shelby) Kubik; and great-grandchildren, Grant Kubik and Kennedy Kubik.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, in 2005; and her brother, Emil Novak.

Leona was born Oct. 14, 1919, on a farm in rural Fairfax, Iowa to Emil C. and Mary (Cuhel) Novak. She attended LaBelle School, graduating from eighth grade. She attended two years at Fairfax High School and graduated from twelfth grade at McKinley Senior High School in Cedar Rapids. Leona attended Cedar Rapids Business College. After graduating the secretarial accounting course, she worked as a secretary or bookkeeper for, Wilson and Company, Iowa Engineering, International Association of Machinist, office manager for Linn County Farm Bureau-Extension Service and bookkeeper for Boy Scouts of America.

In 1965 the Linn Economic Action Program (LEAP) was organized, and Leona was hired to work as business manager for the program. It changed to Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP). She retired from HACAP in 1981.

When her children were in school, Leona was a member and officer of Grant, Wilson and Jefferson's PTA. While working as bookkeeper for the Boy Scouts of America, she volunteered as den mother for one of the Cub Scout dens.

Leo and Leona were married on Sept. 22, 1948. Leona and Leo enjoyed traveling after they retired. They took trips to Europe and spent winters in Arizona. They helped organize and supervise reunions for veterans and their wives who had served with Leo in the 634th Tank Destroyer Division during World War II. Leona was a member of the First Congregational Church and Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 788.

Memorials may be directed to First Congregational Church, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; or to Ladies Auxiliary, VFW Post 788, 3240 Southgate Place SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

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