Marek Wiatr

MAREK WIATR

Anamosa

Marek Jurek Wiatr of Anamosa, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away at home unexpectedly on Jan. 6, 2017. Those he leaves behind are heartbroken and struggle with his loss every day.

Marek was born July 12, 1969, in Nowa Sarzyna, Poland, a small town, and grew up in nearby Lezajsk, where he graduated from high school. He proudly finished his master's degree in agriculture and cooperative movement, with a specialty in marketing, in the city of Rzeszow, Poland. He came to the United States as an agricultural exchange student, and in 2003, he was honored to take the United States Oath of Allegiance, becoming a U.S. citizen.

Although Marek originally worked in agriculture, he harbored the passionate goal of working in law enforcement. Following this passion, he enrolled in North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City and graduated with an associate degree in law enforcement on May 2, 2003. While attending the college in 1999, he had the honor of introducing former Polish President Lech Walesa at the North Iowa Community Auditorium, an event followed by a community reception and supper.

Following his dream of becoming a police officer, Marek attended Buena Vista University on the Fort Dodge campus and received a B.A. degree on May 22, 2005. In November 2005, he accepted a position as deputy sheriff in the Linn County Jail and subsequently graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in August 2006. Marek loved his job and was absolutely passionate about being part of the law enforcement community.

He was funny, kind and outgoing, and his compassion and love touched people wherever he went.

An outdoorsman, Marek loved to fish.

Marek and the love of his life, Chenesani, were married July 7, 2013, in Anamosa.

In addition to Chenesani and their daughter, Angela, he is survived by his parents, Jan and Janina Wiatr of Krakow, Poland; his sisters, Halina Byrne of North Berwick, Maine, and Anna Wiatr of Warsaw, Poland; and his younger brother, Pawel Wiatr of Krzeszowice, Poland; as well as niece, Dominika; and nephews, Andrzej and Aleksander.

Gone, yet not forgotten, although we are apart,

Marek's spirit lives forever within our hearts.

He walks beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always close at hand – still loved, still missed and still held dear.

Funeral service is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, where friends may call after 11 a.m. Interment will be in Czech National Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.