Lester Valenta

LESTER VALENTA

Palo

Lester "Les" Valenta, 93, of rural Palo, passed away at the Iowa City VA Medical Center on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, following a brief illness.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at Salem United Methodist Church, 3715 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, with a memorial service to follow at 4 p.m. Burial will be at a later date. Papich-Kuba Funeral Service, Cedar Rapids, is assisting the family.

Les was born April 5, 1922, in Lozice, Czechoslovakia, to Joseph and Emilie (Tezner) Valenta. Les, his father and brother, Joe, came to America in 1928. Les was raised in the Tama area. He went into the Army Air Corps in 1941 as a radio operator and mechanic in New Guinea, the Island of Biak, the Philippines and Okinawa.

After the war, Les went to radio and TV school and was hired at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids and then worked as a TV repairman for Smulekoff's. In 1956, he opened his own business, Valenta's TV and Radio.

On May 18, 1947, Les married Helen M. Chalupsky. They raised their family, ran the "shop" and had many wonderful years in Cedar Rapids. In 1977, Les and Helen retired and moved to Horseshoe Bend, Ark.

His beloved and devoted wife of 65 years, Helen, passed away in 2012. In 2014, Les moved back to the Cedar Rapids area to live and be with his family.

Les loved playing golf, throwing horseshoes, family vacations fishing in Minnesota and Canada, gardening, cutting firewood and family gatherings.

Les was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Les is survived by three sons and their wives, Dennis and Kathy of rural Palo, Steve and Laura of Chicago and and Gary and Deb of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Stephanie, Joe, Cody and Sarah and her husband, Ryan Reisdorph; and a stepgranddaughter, Robin. He also is survived by his brother, Joe, in Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents and stepmother, Mary; sister-in-law, Helen Valenta; four brothers-in-law, Allen, Merle, Clayton and Clair Chalupsky; a stepsister, Martha; and two stepbrothers, Bill and Leonard.

Lester's family wishes to thank the wonderful doctors and nurses of 7 East at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City for their excellent care of Les during his brief illness.

Memorials may be directed to Gary Valenta, 238 22nd St. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under obituaries.