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Rigel, Marvin W.
Marvin W. Rigel, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, with burial to follow in the Czech National Cemetery. Full military rites will be conducted by the Ely American Legion Post 555. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids.
Marvin was born June 11, 1929, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Leo and Bessie (Barta) Rigel. He graduated from Wilson High School in Cedar Rapids in 1947. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean conflict. He married Hermina B. Netolicky on Aug. 14, 1954, in Cedar Rapids. Marvin farmed nearly all his life in the Cedar Rapids area. He was a member of the Ely American Legion, Ely Odd Fellows, Linn County Farm Bureau, CSA Lodge Prokop Velky #137, Czech Heritage, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library as well as SOKOL Cedar Rapids. He enjoyed playing cards, the outdoors, traveling, going to polka dances, attending grandkids school activities and spending time with his family.
Marvin is survived by his wife, Hermina; children, Leo Rigel of Cedar Rapids, Sharon Rigel and her sons, Garrett and Wesley Carlson of Atkins, and Margie Rigel of Marion; Karen's son, Robert (Michelle) Vrba of Des Moines, and their children Sarah Jayne and Robert Lucas Vrba; his sisters, Irene (Chuck) Vavra of Ely, and Norma (Eugene) Rousseau of Bloomington, Ind.; a brother-in-law, Leo Modracek of Cedar Rapids; and a son-in-law, Frank (Kathy) Vrba of Marengo.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Karen Vrba; and a sister, Irma Modracek.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either SOKOL Cedar Rapids or the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.
The family would to send a special thank you to Care Initiatives and or to Heritage Nursing and Rehab for their loving care and support for Marvin.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at .
Published in The Gazette Sept. 20, 2011.
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