Lepic, Jaro Louis

Jaro Louis Lepic died Monday, May 14, 2012, at Mercy Iowa City, with his wife and family by his side. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday, May 18, at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church.) Burial, with military honors, will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Friends and family are invited to a reception to celebrate Jaro's life at the Clarion Highlander immediately after the burial services. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral Service and after 11 a.m. Friday at the church.

Jaro was born May 31, 1924, in Iowa City, Iowa, son of Otto Wesley and Bozena (Bessie) Cermak Lepic. He took pride in his Bohemian heritage and his Goose Town upbringing. Three of his favorite foods were his mother's specialties: plum dumplings and liver dumpling soup and hoskas, a tradition carried on today by his grandchildren. While growing up, Jaro was a Boy Scout and a member of the Sokol Youth Gymnastics Team. He excelled in the horizontal bars, rings, and pommel horse. In 8th grade he received the most improved basketball player award. At City High School Jaro lettered in basketball and football. He was elected captain of the 1942 Little Hawk basketball team. Jaro graduated from City High in 1942 as president of the senior class.

After graduation Jaro enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Air Force and served his country proudly as a machine-gunner in a Dive Bomber during World War II. In 1945, his squadron was stationed on the USS Salerno Bay Aircraft Carrier and saw duty in the Pacific. In the Marine Corps, Jaro was the welter weight boxing champion, knocking out the Golden Gloves champion of the state of New York. Jaro returned home at Christmas time in 1945, went to Great Lakes Naval Base and in March was mustered out as a staff sergeant.

In June 1946, Jaro married his loving wife, Reta Douglas, at First United Methodist Church. His intentions were to attend the University of Iowa in the fall, but his temporary summer job at Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric turned into his permanent job of 40 years. He retired in May 1986.

Married 65 years, Jaro and Reta had three sons, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Jaro enjoyed hunting, mushrooming, and his annual fishing trips to northern Minnesota with his family, and after retirement his annual trips to Gulfport, Miss., with his wife, Reta.

Known throughout Iowa City as avid walkers, Jaro and Reta were seen daily hitting the sidewalks from their Court Street home and no one interrupted his Sunday Bears games.

Jaro was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Otto and George; and two grandchildren, Danny and Andy.

He is survived by his wife, Reta; sons, Steve (Alicia), Ted (Kate Kostenbader) and Tom (Polly); his sister, Betty (Walter) Shaffer; sister-in-law, Margaret (Myles) Harai; grandchildren, Lisa Lepic and Catharine Lepic, Jaro John Lepic, Nate Lepic, Matt Lepic and Kari Conway; stepgranddaughter, Natalie Brotherton; as well as his seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Jaro will be greatly missed by his family and the many friends from his 87 years in Iowa City.

The Lepic family is very grateful to Dr. Sarin, Dr. Ashby, and staff at Mercy Hospital and Hospice of Mercy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Mercy Hospital in Iowa City or a charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be sent for Jaro's family through the web at www.gayandciha.com.

Published May 16, 2012 in The Gazette