Petska, Richard Joseph

Richard Joseph Petska, 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, April 14, 2012 at his home following a long illness. Funeral mass: 10 a.m. Thursday, St. Jude Catholic Church, by the Rev. Mark Reasoner. Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery with military rites. A vigil service will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., at Teahen Funeral Home where friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the church.

Richard is survived by his son, Steve of Long Beach, Calif.; daughter, Sharon Smith of Underwood, Minn.; grandson, Eric (Andrea) Smith of Suffolk, Va.; and brother, Leonard of Cedar Rapids.

His wife, Lois, preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 2008.

Richard Joseph Petska was born Aug. 20, 1923 in Cedar Rapids, the son of Joseph Wesley and Helen Frances Kadlec Petska. He married Lois Jean Brinkmeyer on Aug. 16, 1948 in Seward, Neb. Richard served his country in the Army from 1943 to 1946. He worked for over 35 years as transportation manager of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce. He was a life member of DAV #10 and VFW Post 788, and a member of St. Jude Catholic Church.

Memorials may be directed to the American Kidney Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or a veteran's organization of their choice.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at .

Published April 17, 2012 in The Gazette